Independence adds Galindo, Lanning to men’s basketball staff

Independence Community College has added Jacob Galindo and Whitney Lanning to its men’s basketball staff for the 2026-27 season, giving Coach Steadman two hires built for the work that shapes a roster before the first game tips. Galindo brings an operations-heavy résumé and Lanning arrives with a deep Kansas basketball footprint, a combination designed to strengthen recruiting, scouting and player development.

Galindo’s path runs through the kind of behind-the-scenes roles that can change how a junior college program functions day to day. He started as a student manager at UTRGV when Steadman was there, then moved to Prairie View A&M as a graduate assistant before climbing to full-time assistant and eventually Director of Basketball Operations. After that, he returned to UTRGV as an assistant coach and video coordinator, where scouting and video work became part of his daily assignment. He also spent two seasons with the Houston Dynamo as an equipment manager, adding another layer of organizational experience that can help a program handle everything from travel details to opponent preparation.

For Independence, that background fits a staff that needs help in the margins as much as on the sideline. Galindo’s experience with video, scouting and basketball operations gives the Pirates a staff member who can help identify opponents, organize game plans and keep the machinery of a season moving in order. At the NJCAA level, where roster turnover is constant and preparation windows are short, that kind of support can matter as much as a late signing.

Lanning’s profile comes from a different corner of the game, but it is just as tied to building a program. She starred at Silver Lake High School, where she was a four-time first-team all-conference selection and a three-time all-state pick. She finished her high school career as the school record holder in rebounds and blocks for a game, a season and a career, numbers that underline how dominant she was around the rim.

Her college path took her through Drake, Seward County and Oklahoma State, then into graduate work at McPherson and Avila. That mix gives Independence a coach who understands NJCAA basketball from the inside and has seen Division I expectations up close. With Kansas connections already in place, Lanning adds regional familiarity that can help the Pirates stay connected to in-state talent while also speaking the language of players who are deciding between junior college routes and four-year opportunities.

The hires show a clear blueprint: Galindo covers the scouting reports, logistics and operational details, while Lanning adds player perspective, regional credibility and a résumé that can resonate in recruiting conversations. Before Independence plays a possession, the staff is already being built to close gaps that can decide a season in Kansas JUCO basketball.