Stetson University Athletics

Lana Spitler joined the Stetson Women's Soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2026 season… She brings Division I coaching experience, international player-development experience and an extensive professional playing career in the United States and Europe to DeLand. Spitler joined head coach Jamie Souza's staff after spending the 2025 season as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley… Her background includes coaching at the collegiate, club and international academy levels along with competing professionally in Spain and Sweden. At Stetson, Spitler brings a player-development perspective shaped by experience competing and coaching across multiple levels of the game… Her professional playing career and international background provide the Hatters with firsthand insight into technical development, tactical awareness and preparation for high-level competition. Spitler's coaching experience includes planning and implementing training sessions, preparing teams for competition and working directly with athletes on individual development… She also brings experience helping young players progress toward professional opportunities. Prior to Stetson, Spitler served as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley during the 2025 season… The Vaqueros finished the year 6-10-2 while five student-athletes earned Southland Conference All-Academic Team recognition. The position added NCAA Division I coaching experience to Spitler's résumé before she joined the Hatters. Spitler spent the 2024-25 season coaching within the Zaragoza CFF youth system in Spain… She planned and implemented training sessions, prepared teams for competition and contributed to player-development initiatives designed to help young athletes progress toward the professional level. Her coaching role followed several seasons competing professionally for Zaragoza, providing Spitler with experience inside the organization from both the player and coaching perspectives. Spitler's coaching experience also includes serving as an assistant men's soccer coach at Keystone College. She began building her coaching foundation with Pipeline Soccer Club, where she worked with the organization's U13 girls team… Her experience across youth, collegiate and international soccer has allowed her to work with athletes at multiple stages of development. Before transitioning into collegiate coaching, Spitler built an extensive professional playing career in the United States and Europe… She spent five seasons with Zaragoza CFF in Spain from 2020-25 and served as team captain during the 2022-23 campaign. Spitler also competed professionally in Sweden with IK Uppsala and Sandvikens IF and gained experience within the Washington Spirit organization. Her career exposed her to different styles of play, coaching philosophies and competitive environments while helping shape her approach to player development. Spitler was part of the Washington Spirit Reserves team that captured the 2015 W-League Championship… The title added championship experience to a playing career that eventually took her from the United States to professional soccer in Europe. Spitler was a standout at East Carolina University, earning All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors twice during her collegiate career… She also served as team captain during her final two seasons and earned Preseason All-Conference recognition in 2016. Over four seasons with the Pirates, Spitler recorded 22 goals and 14 assists while playing more than 6,000 minutes… Eight of her 22 goals were game-winners. Her combination of production, leadership and durability established Spitler as one of East Carolina's most consistent performers during her collegiate career. Spitler's experience as both a longtime professional player and coach provides a broad foundation for her work in player development… Her background spans youth soccer, collegiate programs, international academies and professional competition. At Stetson, she is able to translate those experiences into technical instruction, tactical development and preparation for student-athletes competing at the Division I level. Spitler's coaching résumé includes stops at Stetson, UT Rio Grande Valley, Zaragoza CFF, Keystone College and Pipeline Soccer Club… Her experience includes NCAA Division I and Division III soccer, international academy development and youth coaching. Spitler earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Fitness Specialist from East Carolina University in 2017.