WILMINGTON, Ohio – Wilmington College Interim Head Women's Basketball Coach Janel Blankespoor has announced the hiring of Cassie Lastivka as the program's assistant coach for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year.

"I am thrilled to have Cassie join the Lady Quaker Basketball program," said Blankespoor. "She has been a part of several highly successful basketball programs from the college to high school to AAU levels and has made a positive impact everywhere she has been. Cass possesses the qualities, skills and relationships needed to assist in helping us strive for championship caliber play on the court and molding young women off the court."

Lastivka comes to Wilmington from the Cincinnati area after spending the last four years coaching at the high school and AAU levels. She's been on staff at Mercy McAuley High School since 2018 and been a part of two district championship teams. She was also part of the Purcell Marian High School program for the 2017-18 season where she helped the Cavaliers to an 18-7 record. Lastivka's AAU experience is with Cincy Nation, both as an associate director and as a coach.

Lastivka received her undergraduate education at Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) member Ohio Northern University (ONU). As a Polar Bear, she spent four years, split between time as a player and student assistant coach, with the women's basketball program. ONU won at least 20 games in all four of Lastivka's years with the program including two appearances in the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.

She earned a Bachelor's degree in Sport Management from Ohio Northern and possesses two Master's degrees – Recreational Leadership and Sport Sciences from Ohio University as well as an M.B.A. from Tiffin University.