Indiana head women’s basketball coach Teri Moren has filled the vacancy on her staff.
The Hoosiers announced Monday they’ve hired Kentucky’s Amber Smith as an assistant coach. She’s Moren’s second hire in the last two years, as Linda Sayavongchanh joined the staff in spring 2022 as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. Rhet Wierzba remains IU’s associate head coach.
Smith’s position became available in early May when associate head coach Glenn Box left to become head coach at Miami (Ohio).
“I am thrilled that Amber is joining us in Bloomington,” Moren said in a press release. “Amber is passionate, high energy, excellent at building relationships and is the ultimate competitor that will fit in perfectly to our culture. We are excited that she has decided to become a part of our Hoosier family.”
Smith most recently spent five years as an assistant coach at Kentucky. She helped the Wildcats get to three NCAA Tournaments in those five seasons, and captured the SEC Tournament title in 2022. Smith worked with Kentucky’s guards, and played a key role in Rhyne Howard’s development into the eventual top pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
Prior to becoming an assistant coach, Smith served as UK’s director of player development for two years. She also played for the Wildcats from 2007 through 2011 — she earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2008, and ranks sixth in program history in assists.
After graduating, Smith became a graduate assistant at Tennessee. She then spent two years as an assistant coach at Louisiana Tech before returning to Lexington.
A source within the IU program praised Smith’s energy and said she’s “ready to spread her wings.”
