Jose Villalpando completed his first year as LMU women’s basketball’s Sports Performance Coordinator with the 2025-26 season, serving in his role as Assistant Sports Performance Coordinator while overseeing the team’s strength and conditioning program during one of the most historic campaigns in program history. Villalpando played a key role in the Lions’ development, helping prepare the team physically for a championship run that resulted in a WCC Regular Season title – the program’s first since 2003-04 – and a 15-3 conference record, the best mark in program history. LMU finished with 21 overall wins, tying for the second-most in a single season, and put together a nine-game winning streak, its longest since the 2003-04 championship season. The Lions also earned a postseason berth in the Women's Basketball Invitation Tournament – just the fourth postseason appearance in program history – falling in a tightly contested opening-round matchup on the road at Stanford Cardinal women's basketball.
Villalpando’s impact was instrumental in maintaining the team’s performance and resilience throughout the season, particularly as the Lions navigated early-season injuries and still posted a strong 6-5 nonconference record. His work in strength, conditioning, and recovery contributed to LMU’s ability to sustain high-level play, highlighted by a signature win over Gonzaga Bulldogs women's basketball that snapped a 35-game losing streak, as well as a resurgence in individual performance and conference recognition. Working closely with the coaching and medical staff, Villalpando helped ensure the Lions were physically prepared to compete at a championship level throughout the year.
