Honda Award Winner, Washington Alum Krista Vansant Joins IU Staff

Newly-minted Indiana head coach Steve Aird has announced the first addition to his coaching staff, assistant coach Krista Vansant.

“I am thrilled to join Coach Aird at Indiana,” Vansant said. “The passion and commitment that the athletic department are displaying surrounding volleyball are second to none. It is an unbelievable opportunity to build a successful, elite program. I am beyond thankful to Coach Aird and Mattie White for giving me this opportunity. 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.”

Vansant comes to IU from her alma mater, the University of Washington, where she was a program assistant, overseeing recruiting in 2016.

The outside hitter earned the prestigious Honda Sports Award twice and was the 2013 AVCA National Player of the Year and 2014 ESPNW National Player of the Year. She is the Huskies all-time career kills leader with 1,893, while hitting .291, serving up 111 aces, averaging 2.41 digs per set and notching 48 career double-doubles.

As a senior, Vansant notched 565 kills (4.67 per set, ninth nationally), while hitting at a .320 clip en route to her second straight Pac-12 Player of the Year and AVCA first team All-America accolades. The four-time All-Pac 12-12 honoree also was tabbed as the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year and first team Academic All-America honors.

On the international stage, Vansant was a part of the U.S. gold medal side at the 2015 Pan American Games and Pan American Cup, earning MVP honors at the latter, competed at the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix and was an alternate for the 2016 Olympic team. She spent one season playing professionally overseas, playing fall 2015 through spring 2016 with Volero Zurich in Switzerland.

“The entire volleyball family at Indiana is thrilled to welcome Krista,” Aird said.  “Her career speaks for itself and now she will turn her attention to training, recruiting and mentoring.  She has a deep desire to help players grow as people and reach their full potential as athletes.  She understands the game at a very high level and I am excited to work with her.  Our goal is to transform this program into one of the nation’s elite and Krista is built for that challenge.”

Vansant hails from Redlands, California, and graduated from UW in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology.

⚪️ 2X National Player of the Year
? USA Volleyball National Team
⚪️ Pan Am Cup MVP
? 2X Honda Award Winner

Welcome Assistant Coach Krista Vansant @kristaaaa16

? https://t.co/O3IcUpouhD#GoIU #IUVB ⚪️ ? pic.twitter.com/t7hffmAx07

— Indiana Volleyball (@IndianaVB) January 26, 2018