STLCC Women’s Basketball Welcomes New Head Coach Tanner Kuehn and a Promising 2025-26 Season

The St. Louis Community College women's basketball program is gearing up for an exciting 2025-26 season under the leadership of newly appointed Head Coach Tanner Kuehn. With a focus on fundamentals, team chemistry, and competitive excellence, Kuehn is committed to building a strong foundation for the program's future.

Despite returning only one player from last season, Kuehn has been impressed by the team's ability to gel quickly during preseason practices.

"What's impressed me most with this group is how connected they've become," said Kuehn. "Those relationships and connections can serve as a real advantage for us over a long season as we focus on improving day by day."

Two players have stood out during offseason workouts: Ella Nottmeyer and Sara Lopez Montoya.

"Ella has found a way to continuously improve and has bought into what the coaching staff is teaching," Kuehn noted. "Sara is constantly looking for ways to get better—whether it's watching film, hitting the weight room, or getting extra shots up. Both bring energy and consistency that elevate our team."

Kuehn emphasizes fundamentals and individualized growth as key components of player development.

"We focus on shooting, passing, and dribbling at game speed every day," he explained. "Outside of team practices, we work on specific areas that benefit each player and the team as a whole."

The team's goal is to reestablish STLCC as a competitive program.

"Our expectation is to improve little by little each day so we're playing our best basketball when the tournament begins in late February," said Kuehn.

Fans can expect a disciplined, high-energy style of play. Offensively, the team will prioritize ball movement and unselfish play to create quality shots. Defensively, the focus will be on making life difficult for opponents and limiting their opportunities.

"We want fans to see a team that plays hard and plays for each other," Kuehn emphasized.

For Kuehn, success in his first year is about establishing the program's identity.

"We want to build our foundation on effort, discipline, and staying connected," he said. "If we set that standard now, the wins will follow."

The 2025-26 season promises to be a pivotal chapter for STLCC women's basketball—a team united by purpose, driven by improvement, and ready to compete.