IU women’s basketball’s offseason rebuild is not only limited to its players.
Director of player development/scouting Isaiah Specks recently announced his departure from the program. He was essentially viewed as an unofficial assistant coach, amidst several staffing changes over the last year.
The Hoosiers announced a new hire on Wednesday, bringing in Colsten Thompson from Alabama. But he isn’t filling Specks’ vacated position; he was hired as assistant coach/recruiting coordinator, which was previously Linda Sayavongchanh’s role since 2022.
Sayavongchanh has been removed from the coaching staff list on IU’s website, and an IU spokesperson confirmed to The Daily Hoosier that Sayavongchanh is no longer on staff.
Thompson spent three years with the Crimson Tide, serving as assistant coach and director of player development and recruiting operations in the latter two seasons. In his first year in Tuscaloosa, 2022-23, he was the program’s director of recruiting operations and creative content.
“I am very excited about Colsten joining the Indiana women’s basketball program, as he brings a wealth of knowledge in both recruiting and player development,” IU head coach Teri Moren said in the program’s press release. “He will have an impact in a variety of areas in our program and am thrilled to welcome Colsten, his wife Mackenzie, and daughter, Tanner, to Bloomington.”
Prior to joining Alabama’s staff, Thompson spent one season as an assistant coach at Lipscomb. He also held previous one-year roles at Louisiana Tech (graduate assistant) and Alabama-Huntsville (student assistant).
The Crimson Tide went to the NCAA Tournament in both of Thompson’s seasons as an assistant coach. They earned a No. 5 seed this past season, and pushed No. 4 seed Maryland to the brink in a memorable double-overtime game in the second round of the tournament. Alabama set a program record in this month’s WNBA Draft with three players selected, including Sarah Ashlee Barker going in the first round at No. 9 overall.
“I’m super excited to join the Indiana women’s basketball family,” Thompson said in IU’s press release. “It’s an honor to be part of a program with such a strong tradition, competitive spirit, and commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the court. I’m ready to get to work and can’t wait to grow alongside this amazing team and staff.”
Sayavongchanh spent three seasons on Moren’s staff in Bloomington as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. The Hoosiers won the Big Ten regular-season title in her first year with the program, and they reached the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons, including one Sweet 16 appearance during her tenure.
Thompson joins Moren’s staff for 2025-26 alongside associate head coach Rhet Wierzba, assistant coach Ali Patberg, assistant coach and director of scouting and analytics Paul Miller, and assistant coach and team and recruitment coordinator Keyanna Warthen.
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