Entering his fifth season at the helm of the College of Lake County Women’s Basketball program and his 18th season as a collegiate basketball coach, Coach Tanner Morris has established the Lancers as one of the premier women’s basketball programs in NJCAA Region 4.
Named Head Coach in August 2022, Morris inherited a program coming off a 3-25 season with just three returning players who had previous college basketball experience. What followed was one of the most significant program transformations in the county.
In just four seasons, Morris has guided CLC to a 78-47 overall record, three consecutive 22-plus-win seasons, a conference championship, a regional championship, an NJCAA Division II National Tournament appearance, and a Top-20 national finish.
The 2024-25 season was a historic campaign for the Lancers. CLC finished 27-7, captured the Skyway Conference Championship for the first time in 33 years, and won the Region 4 Championship for the first time in program history. The historic run earned the Lancers their first appearance at the NJCAA Division II National Tournament, where they finished the season ranked among the Top 20 teams in the country.
The Lancers followed that historic campaign with another outstanding season in 2025-26, finishing 26-6 and recording their second consecutive 25-win season. CLC finished second in the Skyway Conference and advanced to the Region 4 Semifinals, further establishing the Lancers as a consistent contender at the regional level.
Morris’ impact extends beyond wins and championships. He has built a culture centered around player development, accountability, academic success, recruiting, and creating opportunities for student-athletes to continue their playing careers at the four-year level. Under his leadership, numerous Lancers have earned All-Conference and All-Region recognition, while student-athletes have continued to excel both on the court and in the classroom.
A highly regarded recruiter and player-development coach, Morris has built extensive recruiting pipelines throughout the Midwest and continues to attract talented student-athletes to College of Lake County. His philosophy emphasizes developing players both individually and collectively while creating a culture built around competition, toughness, confidence, and what has become known as #TheLancerWay.
In addition to his responsibilities as Head Women’s Basketball Coach, Morris has played an integral role within the CLC Athletic Department. His responsibilities have included recruiting, player development, team travel, strength and conditioning, film breakdown, academic support, and serving as the department’s Communications Coordinator, helping promote and advance the CLC Athletics brand across the department.
Before joining College of Lake County, Morris held collegiate coaching positions focused on recruiting, player development, and program operations. His 18 years of collegiate coaching experience have provided him with a broad understanding of the game and the demands of building a successful college basketball program.
Morris began his collegiate experience at Illinois Valley Community College, where he was a member of the men’s golf program and served as a manager for the men’s basketball program for two years. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in Sports Management from Lincoln College-Normal in 2009.
A native of Normal, Illinois, Morris graduated from University High School in 2002, where he was a four-time varsity letterman in golf and a two-year member of the boys basketball program.
Tanner Morris at CLC
- 5th Season as Head Women’s Basketball Coach
- 18th Season as a Collegiate Basketball Coach
- 78-47 Record at CLC
- 3 Consecutive 22+ Win Seasons
- 2025 Skyway Conference Champions
- 2025 Region 4 Champions
- 2025 NJCAA Division II National Tournament
- 2025 Top-20 National Finish
- 2 Consecutive 25+ Win Seasons
- Multiple All-Conference & All-Region selection
- 10+ Players move on to the 4 year level
