After picking up its new head coach from the east coast, the IU volleyball team announced Friday afternoon the signing of its new assistant coach, this time from the west coast.
IU Coach Steve Aird, previously a coach with Maryland, received an unexpected birthday present when Krista Vasant, former University of Washington player, agreed to be the assistant.
"The entire volleyball family at Indiana is thrilled to welcome Krista,” Aird said in a press release with IU athletics. “Her career speaks for itself and now she will turn her attention to training, recruiting and mentoring. She understands the game at a very high level and I am excited to work with her.”
Vasant graduated from UW in 2015 with 1,893 career kills and a hitting percentage of .320. She was awarded the Honda Sports Award in the 2014-15 season, which is given to the best collegiate volleyball player.
After her volleyball career ended at UW, she went on to the help the U.S. team win gold at the Pan American Games and was selected as an alternate for the 2016 Rio Olympic Team. Vasant also played professionally in Switzerland from 2015-16.
This past fall, when Aird was still the head coach of Maryland, Vasant was a Volleyball Program Assistant at UW and oversaw the recruiting program. Now, the two will meet up in Bloomington and look to turn around IU’s program after finishing 1-19 in the conference a season ago.
“I am thrilled to join Coach Aird at Indiana,” Vansant said in a press release with IU athletics. “The passion and commitment that the athletic department are displaying surrounding volleyball are second to none. Indiana University is a truly special place and I couldn't be more thrilled to join the Hoosier community. The future for Indiana volleyball is bright.”
Dylan Wallace
