INDEPENDENCE, Kan. - Coach Steadman and the ICC Men’s Basketball Program is excited to announce the hirings of Jacob Galindo and Whitney Lanning to the coaching staff for the 2026-2027 season. 

Galindo reunites with Coach Steadman after beginning his career in Basketball as a student manager at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley where Steadman was an assistant coach for Lew Hill and Coach Nick Mora was a member of the Vaqueros squad as a player. 

Following his time there, Galindo joined the coaching staff at Prairie View A&M in 2021 as a graduate assistant before being promoted to a full time assistant and eventually ending his tenure there as the Director of Basketball Operations. During that season, the Panthers won the Eastern Kentucky University Invitational. 

Galindo eventually found his way back to UTRGV as an Assistant Coach and Video Coordinator, where he was primarily responsible for video operations and scouting efforts. In that season the Vaqueros made it to the Southland Conference Semi-Finals before eventually falling to Stephen F. Austin.

Galindo also spent two seasons with Major League Soccer’s Houston Dynamo, as an equipment manager.  

Galindo graduated from UTRGV back in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, and earned his Masters of Arts in Sociology from Prairie View A&M in 2023. 

“Coach Galindo brings much needed experience to our staff due to his several Division I stops”, said Coach Steadman. “He is a tireless worker and will help elevate our staff and our team.” 

Whitney Lanning brings an impressive pedigree as a player to the Pirate staff for the upcoming season. As a standout at Silver Lake High School, Lanning was a four time First Team All-Conference and three time All-State honoree. She even garnered national honors as she was named a McDonald's All-American Honorable Mention in her Senior year. She ended her high school career as the school record holder in rebounds and blocks in a game, season, and career, all while finishing with a total of 1,287 points.

After high school she attended Drake University where she garnered All Missouri Valley Conference Tournament honors as she led the Bulldogs to a runner up finish in her lone season. She then transferred to familiar KJCCC foe Seward County where she was named the KCAC Player of the Year, and was a first team All NJCAA honoree. 

Her second stint at the Division I level found her at Oklahoma State where she was named the Big XII Newcomer of the Year and was an All-Conference Honorable Mention. 

Lanning earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Sociology from McPherson University and a Masters Degree in Psychology from Avila University. 

Lanning’s father and husband are both ICC Alumnus as members of the Pirate Football team. Lanning and her husband reside in Independence with their two daughters.

“Coach Whitney Lanning brings experience and championship DNA to our team from her time in the Jayhawk conference where she was the Player of the Year,” said Steadman. “I’m really excited about both of these additions, together with our current staff we will strive to get the Pirate Basketball Program back atop the Jayhawk conference, and compete for a national championship.”