Offseason includes arrival of new coaches

Summer and the true off-season for IU women’s basketball are approaching their final hours as the team prepares for a new year. The past few months provided the Hoosiers time to rest and recover before the hard work of a new season begins.
 
The dormant summer season didn’t keep the team from making headlines, however. Here are some summer highlights, followed by IU Coach Felisha Legette-Jack’s thoughts on them:

May 19 – The team announced they will face Virginia in Big Ten/ACC Challenge.
“What another great opportunity to showcase the talent of the Big Ten Conference. We are very excited to be a part of this challenge again.

“We will face a tough Virginia squad who played well at home last season, but hopefully we can repeat what we did last year on the road in our challenge game.”

May 31 – The team announced their participation in the Caribbean Classic Dec. 20 through 21.

“We are thrilled to be going to Cancun to play some unbelievable competition in Pittsburgh and Colorado State. Our young ladies play over the course of two semesters, and it is really neat to extend an opportunity for them to play in great weather at a beautiful resort during winter break.

“We are excited, thrilled and humbled by this opportunity that our administration is allowing us to partake in.”

June 1 – Former IU forward Whitney Thomas is hired as an assistant coach.

“The family atmosphere is very important to the growth of our program and building that foundation, and bringing Whitney back in a full capacity as an assistant coach is a tremendous get. We are excited that Whitney will be a part of this program moving forward, and I think the Hoosier Nation is going to see that we are committed to keeping our Hoosiers home in every capacity that we can.

“So we are thrilled that Whitney will continue to be a part of our Hoosier family.”

June 27 – Former six-year Tulsa coach and Auburn University player Charlene Thomas-Swinson is hired as an assistant coach.

“We’re excited to have someone of Charlene Thomas-Swinson’s caliber. She played and coached the game at the highest level, coached in the SEC, coached in the Big East and Conference USA.

“And now, having her in the Big Ten is a slam dunk. We’d like to welcome her family to Bloomington, and she is a perfect addition to our women’s basketball family.”

July 14 – The team announced they will face Oklahoma State in Big 12/Big Ten Women’s Basketball Challenge.

“This is another great opportunity for our program to compete at the highest level. It gives our team, as well as everyone in the conference, a chance to showcase the talent the Big Ten has on a national stage.”

July 26 – Legette-Jack signed a two-year contract extension through 2015.

“I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to be the head women’s basketball coach at Indiana University for five years now, and I’m excited to be able to continue that journey leading this program.

“Hoosier Nation has embraced my family, and I can’t wait to keep building this program with student athletes that represent Indiana with great character, who are excellent academically and bring excitement to the basketball court to create a winning tradition.”

Aug. 3 – Wittenberg University graduate Jimmy Colloton, who served as a four-year student assistant coach, is hired as a graduate assistant.

“I am thrilled that Jimmy has joined our Hoosier family. After meeting him the first day, he just seemed like a great fit for our staff. He is hungry to learn and is very humble and willing to do whatever he can to help us get better.

“His last coach, whom I have great respect for, thinks he is one of the hardest workers he has encountered. We welcome Jimmy to Bloomington with open arms.”