DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson University head women's soccer coach Jamie Souza has announced the addition of Lana Spitler as an assistant coach for the Hatters.

Spitler joins the Stetson staff after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during the 2025 season. The Vaqueros posted a 6-10-2 record last season and placed five athletes on the SLC All-Academic Team.

"I'm delighted Lana has decided to join our program following a long and illustrious professional playing career," said Head Coach Jamie Souza. "Her team-first mentality, keen eye for technical detail, and experience competing at the highest level of the game will be tremendous assets to our program and our student-athletes. We are excited to welcome Lana to our staff as we continue building this program."

Prior to UTRGV, Spitler spent the 2024-25 season as a youth coach with Zaragoza CFF in Spain, where she planned and implemented training sessions, prepared teams for competition, and contributed to player development initiatives designed to help young athletes reach the professional level. She also served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Keystone College.

Spitler's coaching foundation began with Pipeline Soccer Club, where she worked with the club's U13 girls team.

A veteran of the professional game, Spitler spent five seasons with Zaragoza CFF from 2020-25 and served as team captain during the 2022-23 campaign. She also competed professionally in Sweden with IK Uppsala and Sandvikens IF and gained experience within the Washington Spirit organization. During her playing career, she helped the Washington Spirit Reserves capture the 2015 W-League championship.

As a collegiate standout at East Carolina University, Spitler was a two-time All-American Athletic Conference Second Team selection and served as team captain during her final two seasons. She earned Preseason All-Conference honors in 2016 and helped establish herself as one of the Pirates' most consistent leaders on and off the field. Over her four years at ECU, Spitler tallied 22 goals, eight of which were game winners, and 14 assists in just over 6000 minutes played. 

Spitler earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Fitness Specialist from East Carolina University in 2017.

About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.