Diane Decker began her tenure as Head Coach of LVC's Women’s Basketball team before the 2021-22 season. She joined the program after coaching stints at Bloomsburg University and East Stroudsburg University.
In the 2023-24 campaign, Decker guided the Dutchmen to a 15-11 overall record and an appearance in the MAC Freedom Semifinal in the program's first year in the conference. Three LVC players were selected to the All-MAC Freedom Team, as Kate Fitzpatrick was chosen to the First Team, Riley Hevelow was named to the Second Team, and Cristina Fernandez was listed as an Honorable Mention. Fitzpatrick was also recognized as a D3hoops.com All-Region 4 Third Team honoree.
In the 2022-23 season, Decker helped lead Lebanon Valley to a 13-13 overall record and an appearance in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament. The program had three players selected to the All-MAC Commonwealth Team, as Kate Fitzpatrick was named to the First Team while Riley Hevelow and Daelyn Stabler were listed as Honorable Mentions. Hevelow was also recognized as the conference's Rookie of the Year. Additionally, these players earned City of Basketball Love (CoBL) All-Area honors, as Fitzpatrick was named to the Fourth Team while Hevelow and Stabler were Honorable Mentions.
Decker guided the Dutchmen to 11 wins during her inaugural campaign, including six in Middle Atlantic Commonwealth Conference play. Kate Fitzpatrick was named to the City of Basketball Love (CoBL) Division III All-Area All-Rookie Team, as well as All-MAC Academic Honors. Fitzpatrick was also selected as the MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Conference Team as a Second Team selection. Kennedy Kuffa was an Honorable Mention selection.
Before coming to Lebanon Valley, Decker spent a year at her alma mater Villanova University where she worked in women’s basketball operations. She supported the coaching staff with daily tasks, worked with the Villanova Marketing Department to create gameday events, and assisted with community service engagements and film breakdown.
Before her time with the Wildcats, Decker was the Head Coach at East Stroudsburg University from 2015 to 2019. In the 2015-16 season, Decker was named the PSAC Coach of the Year, and in 2016-17, she guided the Warriors to their best record in 10 years (19-9) and coached three players to the All-PSAC First Team, the first time in program history that three players earned first-team recognition.
Decker also has experience as an assistant, as she was a part of Bloomsburg University’s Women’s Basketball staff from 2008 to 2015. Decker helped the Huskies go 149-54 in seven seasons, including five consecutive 20-win campaigns. Under her guidance, Bloomsburg won five consecutive PSAC East Division Championships, earned four NCAA Tournament Atlantic Region trips, and one NCAA Atlantic Region Final.
Before joining the college ranks, Decker was the Head Varsity Girls’ coach at Freedom High School in Bethlehem, Pa. She coached her teams to an 82-15 record during her three years at Freedom.
Decker graduated from Villanova in 1989. She was named team captain her senior season and was selected to the All-Big East Second Team. She helped the team win the Big East Championship in 1987 and 1988 and competed in the NCAA Division I Tournament in each of her four seasons. After graduation, Decker went on to play semi-professionally for the Schuylkill Syrens from 1995-1998.
Decker is a member of several Hall of Fames in the state, including the Marian Catholic High School Hall of Fame, the Schuylkill County PA Hall of Fame, Pennsylvania District IX Hall of Fame, and Lehigh Valley Hall of Fame.
A highly decorated high school player, Decker was selected as a High School Converse All-American, earned USA Today All-American Honorable Mention status, and helped her team win the PIAA State Basketball Championship in 1984. She’s Marian High School’s all-time leading scorer with 2,377 points and the top rebounder with 1,116 boards. She holds the Marian H.S. record for most points in a game with 62.
