OTTAWA, Kan. – Ottawa University Director of Athletics, Janet Eaton-Smith, is pleased to announce the hiring of Lauren Wilson as head dance coach.

"I am very excited to welcome Lauren Wilson to Braves Nation," said Eaton-Smith. "Lauren is a veteran coach with a great deal of experience and connections in the dance world. She is gifted in many areas but best known for her Innovative Choreography. Lauren has choreographed for teams that compete at the National Dance Alliance (NDA), Dance Team Union (DTA), and Region 6, along with judging for NAIA regional competitions. With her diverse background and strong relationships with studio owners and or youth organizations, OU's Dance program will bode well in the near future."

Wilson has over eleven years of professional experience as a dance coach and five years as a studio director. She has experience being an NAIA judge for regional competitions and danced collegiately for an All-Star Team. Wilson has trained in pom, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and team performance.

Wilson is the co-owner and founder of Innovative Choreography. She holds camps for middle school, high school, and college dancers. These camps teach a variety of skills, including technique and choreography. Wilson directs competitions each year and runs combines. These combines allow colleges to recruit and build relationships with dancers who are interested in dancing at the collegiate level. 

While running Innovative Choreography, Wilson was the high school dance coach for Blue Valley West High School. She grew the program by 50 percent in the first year and now has a total of 31 dances at the varsity and junior varsity level.

"I am honored to be part of the Braves Nation and am excited to work with the outstanding members of the dance team," said Wilson. "Ottawa University has a rich tradition of excellence, both academically and athletically. I cannot wait to see what we can accomplish, and I know we will represent the Braves well."

Before her time at Blue Valley West High School, Wilson was an assistant dance coach at Shawnee Mission West High School and Mill Valley High School. She was also the dance studio director at Beller Dance Studio.

Wilson is working on her degree in general studies from the University of Kansas.