O'FALLON, Mo. — A St. Louis area basketball coach and her family tragically lost their house in a fire last week.
University of Missouri-St. Louis women’s basketball coach Katie Vaughn, her husband and two children are all safe following the fire that happened on Jan. 24, but the family’s house in O’Fallon, Missouri was destroyed.
According to a GoFundMe for the family, the fire left them without a home and much of their belongings.
“As you can imagine, they are in a stage of shock and have a long road ahead,” organizer Angela Dostal said on the GoFundMe page.
"She kind of reminds me of my Mom because she's so hard on me but I know I can always go to her for anything and she will keep me in check," said UMSL women's basketball player Alex Laporta.
Laporta and most of the UMSL women's basketball team said head coach Katie Vaughn is more than just their coach.
"Our whole team, in general, has just been an outpouring of love and texts and calls and gifts so it's unimaginable really,"
The basketball court may be Katie's home away from home, but on Friday her actual home burnt to the ground, leaving Katie, her husband and two young kids with almost nothing left.
"There were things in there you can't get back, but you have to move past that and make new memories so that's what we're moving forward with now," said Vaughn.
On Saturday the last-place lady Tritons moved right past the first-place Lewis University Flyers.
"We're with each other every single day for eight months straight, we live with each other and love each other so we really are just a big family," added Laporta.
A big family that sticks together during the good times and the bad.
"If you had one word to describe your team while you're going through this what would it be?" asked 5 On Your Side's Brandon Merano.
"Oh resilient, they've just, they've been amazing," answered Vaughn.
As of Tuesday, the GoFundMe for the Vaughn family has exceeded its $5,000 goal. Click here to help.
5 On Your Side spoke to Katie and she said her family had homeowners insurance and plans to rebuild, but her family still needs help in the meantime purchasing new clothes for the children.
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