CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland State women's basketball head coach Chris Kielsmeier announced the addition of Desma Thomas Bateast to his coaching staff for the upcoming 2020-21 season, as Thomas Bateast will join the Vikings as an assistant coach.
Thomas Bateast joins the Vikings with 18 years of collegiate coaching experience, in which she has helped her former teams make eight postseason appearances, earn Top-25 national rankings and capture a pair of conference titles.
"The entire program is thrilled to welcome Desma to our team, as she brings with her an extensive wealth of basketball knowledge and a track record of working with successful teams," Kielsmeier said. "This year more so than any, we are looking forward to Desma joining the program and hitting the ground running and helping our team continue our efforts in building a consistent championship level program here at Cleveland State."
Most recently, Thomas Bateast spent three years at Florida Atlantic University where she served as the co-recruiting coordinator and assistant coach. During her time with the Owls, Thomas Bateast helped FAU to its best finish since joining Conference USA, while also helping the team record the highest scoring average in recent history.
Prior to her stint at FAU, Thomas Bateast spent four years at the University of South Florida, where she was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. During her time at USF, Thomas Bateast coordinated all aspects of recruiting, including the recruitment of 2017 AAC Freshman of the Year Tamara Henshaw.
While with the Bulls, Thomas Bateast helped USF make three straight American Athletic Conference Championship appearances, while also helping the team achieve its first-ever Top-25 national ranking during the 2014-15 season. In addition, USF earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament three out of the four years she was there, while the Bulls advanced to the Final Four of the WNIT during the 2013-14 season.
During her tenure at USF, two Bulls were selected in the WNBA Draft, including Courtney Williams who was a first round pick following the 2015-16 campaign.
Thomas Bateast also spent seven years at FIU, where she helped the Panthers to two WNIT postseason appearances, including the program's first postseason appearance in 10 years when FIU advanced to the second round of the WNIT during the 2011-12 campaign.
As the recruiting coordinator at FIU, Thomas Bateast was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Jerica Coley, who was a two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, two-time AP All-American Honorable Mention and the 2012-13 National Scoring Leader.
Thomas Bateast played collegiately at Miami, where she graduated as the all-time leader in three-pointers made and attempted. Throughout her career she recorded 1,284 total points, and helped Miami pick up back-to-back BIG EAST Conference and Tournament championships.
As a two-time All-BIG EAST selection, Thomas Bateast was inducted into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
After college, Thomas Bateast spent five years playing professionally, including stints in the WNBA, Italian Basketball League, Swedish Basketball League, Turkish Basketball Federation, and NWBL.
Thomas Bateast will round out third-year head coach Chris Kielsmeier's coaching staff, joining Katelin Oney and Frozena Jerro on the Viking sideline for the upcoming season.
