University of North Alabama head volleyball coach Tristan Johnson announced the hiring of former University of Houston standout Isabel Theut as an assistant coach with the Lions on January 23, 2023.
A native of Columbus, Texas, Theut originally signed with Arkansas State but later transferred to the University of Houston where she played from 2019-22.
Playing as a graduate student last season, Theut helped lead Houston to a 30-4 record that included an American Athletic Conference co-championship and a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars defeated South Dakota and Auburn in the NCAA Tournament before falling to fifth ranked Stanford in the regional semifinal.
Theut was selected first-team All-American Athletic Conference and was a two-time American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. A member of the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (2019-20), Theut tied for seventh in career sets played at Houston (463) and ranks eighth in career hitting percentage (.272).
"I have known Isabel since she was a teenager and recruited her to Arkansas State," said Johnson. "She will make a smooth transition here since she played in the same offense . She is also coming off a remarkable season and career as a player and is an extremely hard working person with the potential to be a top-tier recruiter."
In 2021, Theut started in all 32 matches of the season and finished third on the team in kills (242), second in blocks (82) and third in sets played (120).
As a junior in 2020, she helped lead Houston to the American Athletic Conference West Division title, competing in all 75 sets on the year. Finished the season second on the team with a .277 hitting percentage, a mark that ranked No. 10 in the conference.
In her sophomore season of 2019, Theut played in all 33 matches and all 141 sets, while helping lead Houston to its first postseason appearance since 2000. She eclipsed the double-digit kill mark 12 times, including a career-high 15 kills in the five-set thriller against USF. She began her Houston career with a spot on the Flo Hyman Collegiate Cup All-Tournament Team.
On the prep level, Theut earned four letters at Columbus High School where she totaled 1,153 kills, 439 blocks, 445 digs, 83 service aces and 49 assists during her career. Those numbers include 586 kills as a senior. She was a three-time firat-team all-district honoree and two-time first-team all-state selection. She was chosen as the AVCA/Max Preps Player of the Week on Sept. 11, 2017, named Academic All-District, chosen for the 2017 TAVC all-star team and competed for the swimming, track and field, basketball and softball teams as well.
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