Iowa State assistant women’s basketball coach Latoja Schaben is stepping away from the program after 28 seasons, marking the end of her career on the Cyclones’ sidelines. Schaben, who has been a fixture alongside head coach Bill Fennelly since her arrival, is leaving to pursue a new opportunity.
Throughout her tenure in Ames, Schaben helped guide the Cyclones to an overall record of 621-313 and 25 postseason appearances. Notably, she was on the coaching staff for all 23 NCAA Tournament victories in the program’s history at the time of her departure, including two Elite Eight berths in 1999 and 2009, and four additional Sweet Sixteen appearances. During her 28 years, Iowa State secured three Big 12 Championship titles (2000, 2001, 2023) and a share of the 2000 regular-season conference crown.
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“Iowa State has been far more than a workplace to me—it has been home,” Schaben said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful for the relationships, memories and experiences that have shaped both my career and my life over nearly three decades”.
Schaben’s primary coaching assignment was the development of the Cyclones’ post players, a role in which she achieved legendary status.
Her legacy of elite post play includes:
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The first Iowa State freshman to earn All-America honors, Audi Crooks led the Big 12 in scoring as a sophomore and became the fastest player in conference history to reach 2,000 career points, doing so in just 89 games.
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Schaben tutored Angie Welle, who recorded 54 career double-doubles and nine All-America honors, and Nicky Wieben, the program’s most prolific shot-blocker.
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She helped develop Stephanie Soares, the program’s highest-ever draft pick (4th overall in 2023), as well as WNBA draftees Ashley Joens, Chelsea Poppens and Anna Prins.
The strength of the frontcourt remained a hallmark of Schaben’s coaching until her final seasons. In the 2023-24 campaign, the Cyclones’ post presence was pivotal, as the team out-rebounded 28 of its 33 opponents and recorded the sixth-highest field goal percentage in school history (.468).
She expressed profound thanks to Fennelly for his trust and to the student-athletes she mentored. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to coach such driven, passionate and inspiring young women,” she stated. “I am forever proud to have done things the Iowa State Way”.
