Advertisement

Indiana women's basketball assistant coach leaves Hoosiers for alma mater

seth tow, the herald-times
·3 min read
Indiana assistant coach Ashley Williams celebrates after a made basket during the game against Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon.
Indiana assistant coach Ashley Williams celebrates after a made basket during the game against Purdue at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall Sunday afternoon.

Indiana women's basketball has a new opening for an assistant coach.

Ashley Williams left the program to return to North Carolina State, her alma mater, and join Wes Moore's staff. N.C. State made the move official Wednesday evening, and Williams shared the news herself on Twitter in a few posts.

“We're excited about bringing Ashley back home to NC State," Moore said in N.C. State's release. "I've enjoyed watching from afar as she has developed and excelled in her coaching career. Having a former player on your staff that is familiar with your system and way of doing things is always an asset, and coming from a program and coach at Indiana that I have great respect for is only a plus."

Williams played for Moore and the Wolfpack from 2013-2017. She ranked fourth in program history in 3-point percentage and sixth in total 3-pointers made. She grew up in Cary, North Carolina, around 10 minutes from N.C. State's campus in Raleigh.

More: Second time at IU the charm for assistant Ashley Williams

More: Williams on point for IU women against alma mater

She came to IU upon graduation from N.C. State in 2017, serving as a graduate assistant for two years while she earned her master's degree in athletic administration. Williams then left for an assistant coach position at Furman in 2019-20. She returned to Bloomington ahead of the 2020-21 season to fill the position Janese Banks-Constantine vacated to leave for Alabama.

Then-graduate assistant Ashley Williams gives direction as Chanel Wilson looks on during a Nov. 7, 2018, game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Now in her first year as a full-time assistant coach with Indiana, Williams will face her alma mater, N.C. State, in the Sweet 16 tonight. (Amelia Herrick / Indiana Athletics)
Then-graduate assistant Ashley Williams gives direction as Chanel Wilson looks on during a Nov. 7, 2018, game at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Now in her first year as a full-time assistant coach with Indiana, Williams will face her alma mater, N.C. State, in the Sweet 16 tonight. (Amelia Herrick / Indiana Athletics)

"I could not be more excited to be back home at NC State," Williams said in N.C. State's press release. "This place has held a special place in my heart for a very long time, and I am thrilled to return to the sidelines in Reynolds Coliseum. Coach Moore is a proven winner, and I can't wait to get to work on his staff. It's a dream come true to be back running with the Pack!"

More: Grace Berger's commitment changed the trajectory of Indiana women's basketball

More: Ali Patberg's drive, leadership define her Indiana University women's basketball legacy

Williams was selected among the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Thirty Under 30 in 2020-21. In her two seasons on Teri Moren's staff, the Hoosiers made two consecutive Sweet 16 trips and one Elite Eight appearance — all program firsts. Indiana also reached the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game this past season.

Then-graduate assistant Ashley Williams directs Indiana players during a Dec. 9, 2018, game against Missouri State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. (John Sims / Indiana Athletics)
Then-graduate assistant Ashley Williams directs Indiana players during a Dec. 9, 2018, game against Missouri State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. (John Sims / Indiana Athletics)

Indiana players return to Bloomington in early June to begin summer workouts. While that's happening — barring a very quick turnaround on a new hire — the program will be searching for a new assistant coach.

More: Excitement growing around Teri Moren and Indiana women's basketball

“We want to thank Ashley for her contributions to our program," IU head coach Teri Moren said in a text message shared by an IU spokesperson. "She had the opportunity to return home to her alma mater and also be near her family. Our program wishes her nothing but the best.”

Follow Herald-Times sports reporter Seth Tow on Twitter @SethTow, or email him at stow@heraldt.com.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Indiana women's basketball assistant coach leaves Hoosiers for alma mater