Olivia Lett

Olivia Lett

Olivia Lett took over as the Millikin Head Women’s Basketball Coach in March 2018 becoming the third head coach in program history.
 
In six seasons, Lett has an 105-48 record. In 2023-24 Millikin finished 23-6 and made its three straight trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament going 1-1.

In 2022-23, Lett led the Big Blue to a 24-5 record winning both the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) regular season and conference tournament titles. Millikin advanced to the NCAA DIII Tournament for the second straight season going 1-1. Lett was named the CCIW’s Beth Baker Coach of the Year for the second straight season.  
 
Under Lett’s direction in 2021-22, the Big Blue had a 23-7 record and made a trip to the Sweet 16 Round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Millikin shared the CCIW regular season title earning Lett the CCIW's Beth Baker Coach of the Year Award. 
 
In 2020-21, she successfully led the Big Blue through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic finishing with an 11-3 record and the 2021 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament Championship (tournament served as regular season title that season). In 2019-20, Lett led the Big Blue to a 16-10 record and fourth place finish in the CCIW.
 
Lett has coached 11 CCIW All-Conference First Team selections and five Second Team honorees. She has coached the CCIW Newcomer of the Year twice and the CCIW's Lori Kerans Player of the Year, Elyce Knudsen, in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Knudsen was named an All-American by both the WBCA and D3hoops.com in 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24. Knudsen won the prestigious Jostens Trophy in 2022-23. 
 
Lett returned to Central Illinois and the CCIW after spending two seasons as the top assistant women’s basketball coach at the University of Chicago.  Prior to her position at Chicago, Lett spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois Wesleyan University.  As a player, Lett starred for the Titans for three seasons leading them to the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championship.  Lett was a standout high school player at Pana High School.
 
In her two seasons at the University of Chicago, Lett helped guide the Maroons to two trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament. In 2017-18, the University of Chicago was UAA Champions with a 24-3 record advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament earning the Maroons’ staff the UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honor.
 
As a player, Lett helped the Titans to three straight CCIW Regular Season and Tournament titles, a fourth place finish in the NCAA Tournament (2011) and the national championship (2012).  In 2012, Lett was named a First Team All-American and the D3Hoops.com Division III Player of the Year. Lett was selected as the 2012 CCIW Player of the Year and named to the All-Conference First Team.
 
Lett is the career-scoring leader at Pana High School with 2,439 points helping the Panthers advance to the Sectional Finals three times.
 
In 2017, Lett was selected to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 30 Under 30 program honoring 30 up-and-coming women’s basketball coaches age 30 and under at all levels of the game. Honorees were selected for their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
 
Lett played one year professionally in Spain where her team made the league finals for Liga Femenina 2.  She was named to the All Imports First Team and All-League Second Team.
 
Lett graduated from Illinois Wesleyan in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics.  She earned a Masters of Science in Sports Management from Illinois State University.
 
Lett Career Coaching Record
Year Record Pct. CCIW Record Pct. NCAA Tournament Record
2018-19 8-17 .320 4-12 .250  
2019-20   16-10 .615 9-7 .563  
2020-21 11-3* .786      8-3 .727    
2021-22 23-7 .767 14-2 .875 2-1 (Advanced to Sweet 16)
2022-23 24-5 .828 15-1 .938 1-1 (Advanced to Second Rd.
2023-24     23-6         .793 13-3 .813 1-1 (Advanced to Second Rd.)
Career 105-48 .686 63-28 .692 4-3
*=Season shortened by COVID pandemic. No CCIW regular season winner declared.
CCIW Regular Season Titles
2021-22 Co-Champions
2022-23
 
CCIW Tournament Titles
2020-21
2022-23