Marc Mitchell, the head women’s basketball coach at Indiana State University, has announced the hiring of Kietta Saunders as the new assistant coach and director of player development. This appointment marks a significant addition to the Sycamores’ coaching staff as the program continues to build momentum.
Saunders arrives at Indiana State after a commendable season serving as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith (UAFS) during the 2024-25 season. Under her guidance, the Lions achieved an impressive 18-11 record and made a quarterfinals appearance in the MIAA Tournament, marking a successful debut in the conference. Her influence contributed to a seven-win improvement from the previous year, with the team achieving its highest number of conference victories—12—in nearly a decade. Notably, UAFS ranked among the top 30 teams in Division II for scoring, averaging 73.4 points per game, which represents the program’s best offensive output in a decade.
During her tenure at UAFS, the Lions demonstrated outstanding performance across multiple statistical categories, including:
- 5th in MIAA in scoring (73.4 points per game)
- Most three-pointers made (206) and attempted (651)
- Top rankings in free throw percentage (72.0) and free throws made (413)
- Averaging 39.8 rebounds per game, including 11.8 offensive rebounds
A highlight of the season included Anna Trusty earning the title of MIAA Freshman of the Year while also landing on the MIAA Third Team All-Conference for averaging 14.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Morgan Browning also received Honorable Mention All-MIAA accolades, averaging 14.0 points with solid contributions in rebounds and assists. Additionally, Hannah Boyett became the first UAFS player in the Division II era to surpass 1,000 career points.
Prior to her successful season at UAFS, Saunders contributed her expertise at Northwest Florida State College, where she was an assistant coach for the Raiders during the 2023-24 season. That year, Northwest Florida posted an outstanding 30-4 record and advanced to the NJCAA Division I national championship game. The team averaged close to 75 points per game while dominating their opponents with an impressive average margin of victory of 24.3 points. They also maintained a solid defensive strategy, averaging 10 steals and four blocks per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
Before her collegiate coaching career, Saunders spent two years coaching high school basketball in her hometown of Chicago. At Lincoln Park High School, she served as head freshman coach and assistant varsity coach, leading her team to a Chicago Public Schools Red Conference championship. Subsequently, as head varsity coach at King College Prep, she orchestrated a remarkable turnaround, leading the team to a 13-8 overall record and a perfect 9-0 mark in conference play to clinch the league title.
Her coaching journey began as a graduate assistant at Clayton State University, her alma mater, during the 2019-20 season. A former player herself, Saunders participated in 58 collegiate games over two seasons, with stints at both Oklahoma Panhandle State and Angelo State, before earning her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration degrees from Clayton State.
Saunders joins fellow assistant coaches Jason Pruitt and Ashley Yu, both returning for their second seasons with the Sycamores, as the team continues to build on its successes under Coach Mitchell’s leadership.
