After more than a two-month search, IU field hockey has a new head coach.
Former IU player Kayla Bashore was announced as the new head coach Tuesday in a statement from Athletic Director Fred Glass.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kayla back to Bloomington to lead our field hockey program into a new, exciting era," Glass said in a press release. "Both here at IU and through her post-collegiate career, Kayla excelled at the highest level nationally and internationally for more than a decade.”
Bashore graduated in 2005 from IU and served as an assistant coach from 2006-2007. During her Hoosier career, she received Big Ten Player of the Year in 2005 and was a NFCA All-American in 2003 and 2005.
Bashore finished as one of the most decorated players in IU’s history, leaving the Hoosiers ranked 6th in all-time goals and 7th in all-time points. In her senior season, Bashore captained the Hoosiers to the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament and 17 wins, the most all time for an IU field hockey team.
"I am very grateful to IU Athletics and the hiring committee for the opportunity to become the head field hockey coach," Bashore said in an IU Athletics press release. "I am honored to have this opportunity at the program I came from, and am really looking forward to leading the program."
Bashore takes over a program that finished 4-13 a season ago, including 1-7 in conference. The Hoosiers return with a wealth of talent including juniors Kelsey Giese and Ciara Girouard, and freshman Hailey Couch. Bashore will attempt to guide the Hoosiers back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.
