University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Director of Athletics Dr. Dustin Smith has announced the hiring of Mississippi State assistant coach Elena Lovato as the university’s head women’s basketball coach.
Lovato, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., succeeds former UAFS coach Louis Whorton, who retired at the end of the season after 30 years as head coach of the Lady Lions. She becomes only the fourth head coach in the 40-year history of the program.
She was formally introduced as head coach during a news conference at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Bill and “Miss” Wanda Srygley Hospitality Room in the Stubblefield Center.