EASTON, Pa. - Tessa Brugler is set to become an assistant coach with Lafayette Women's Basketball.

Brugler, a native of Nazareth, Pa., joins Ben O'Brien's staff after two years of professional basketball overseas. While in Spain and Germany, Brugler was a key player on both ends of the court and was named a team captain ahead of the 2025-26 season for WINGS Leverkusen in Germany.

"Tessa brings a wealth of experience from her time as a standout player at Bucknell and Drexel, as a professional athlete overseas, and as a coach at Drexel, where she developed a strong foundation in player development, recruiting, and program operations," O'Brien said. "Our program will benefit from her ability to teach the game, build strong relationships, and share the experiences that have shaped her success. We are excited to welcome Tessa to the Lafayette Women's Basketball family!" 

Prior to her overseas basketball career, Brugler served as the director of basketball operations at Drexel from 2022 to 2024. In her role, she planned and organized team travel while also managing the team budget. Brugler also played a role in recruiting, creating relationships with prospective student-athletes while identifying their strengths and weaknesses on the court.

Before transitioning into coaching, Brugler played collegiate basketball for five seasons. At Bucknell, she appeared in 94 games while making 35 starts. Brugler served as a two-time team captain in Lewisburg and was named to the 2021 All-Patriot League First Team and All-Patriot League Defensive Team. She played a fifth season at Drexel where she made an immediate impact. She started 34 games and earned another team captaincy while averaging 13.9 ppg. She wrapped up the season with an All-CAA Second-Team nod in 2022.

Brugler graduated from Bucknell in 2021 with her bachelor's degree in student and support services and a minor in religious studies. She earned her master's degree in sports business from Drexel in 2023.