Florida State University Athletics
Women's Basketball
Desma Thomas Bateast
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Director of Player Personnel
- Email:
- dthomas4@fsu.edu
Desma Thomas Bateast was hired in July of 2023, bringing in a versatile assistant coach who has great experience in several facets of the game. Bateast enters her fourth season in 2026-27.
Bateast has helped the Seminoles to two NCAA Tournament appearances, two 20-win seasons, including a 13-3 record in ACC play 2024-25.
Bateast, who serves as the team's recruiting coordinator, helped bring in a talented signing class that includes 2024 portal transfers Malea Williams (Cincinnati), Raiane Dias Dos Santos (Gulf Coast State), Sydney Bowles (Texas A&M) and Morelia Chavez (Eastern Arizona).
Prior to Florida State, Bateast saw success at Cleveland State, helping the Vikings record their second 20-win season in three years in 2022-23, winning the Horizon League title and making an appearance at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Bateast had a large oversight in recruiting, opponent scouting, game preparation and game strategy in her three years with Cleveland State.
From 2017-20, she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic where she helped engineer the second-best turnaround for a coaching staff in a debut season at an NCAA Division I program. The Owls had their highest scoring average in several years at 70.6 points per game in that 2017-18 season, where she focused on skill development for guards and wings, among other responsibilities.
She was part of a successful run at USF from 2013-17, helping the nationally-ranked Bulls make four postseason appearances and three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. Bateast coordinated all aspects of recruiting, served as the academic liaison, had a skill emphasis on point guard play and assisted the head coach with in-game strategies during her time in Tampa.The Bulls made three consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship appearances.
Bateast has also made coaching stops at FIU, Rhode Island and Dillard University.
She brings WNBA experience as well having served as a scout for the New York Liberty in the 2005-06 season.
Bateast was a standout student-athlete at Miami, being a two-time All-BIG EAST selection and an inductee into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. She graduated as the program’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals made and attempted, racking up 1,284 total points and helping the Hurricanes to consecutive BIG EAST Conference and tournament titles.
Following her collegiate career, Bateast played professionally for five years.
Bateast has helped the Seminoles to two NCAA Tournament appearances, two 20-win seasons, including a 13-3 record in ACC play 2024-25.
Bateast, who serves as the team's recruiting coordinator, helped bring in a talented signing class that includes 2024 portal transfers Malea Williams (Cincinnati), Raiane Dias Dos Santos (Gulf Coast State), Sydney Bowles (Texas A&M) and Morelia Chavez (Eastern Arizona).
Prior to Florida State, Bateast saw success at Cleveland State, helping the Vikings record their second 20-win season in three years in 2022-23, winning the Horizon League title and making an appearance at the 2023 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Bateast had a large oversight in recruiting, opponent scouting, game preparation and game strategy in her three years with Cleveland State.
From 2017-20, she served as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic where she helped engineer the second-best turnaround for a coaching staff in a debut season at an NCAA Division I program. The Owls had their highest scoring average in several years at 70.6 points per game in that 2017-18 season, where she focused on skill development for guards and wings, among other responsibilities.
She was part of a successful run at USF from 2013-17, helping the nationally-ranked Bulls make four postseason appearances and three consecutive NCAA Tournament berths. Bateast coordinated all aspects of recruiting, served as the academic liaison, had a skill emphasis on point guard play and assisted the head coach with in-game strategies during her time in Tampa.The Bulls made three consecutive American Athletic Conference Championship appearances.
Bateast has also made coaching stops at FIU, Rhode Island and Dillard University.
She brings WNBA experience as well having served as a scout for the New York Liberty in the 2005-06 season.
Bateast was a standout student-athlete at Miami, being a two-time All-BIG EAST selection and an inductee into the UM Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. She graduated as the program’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals made and attempted, racking up 1,284 total points and helping the Hurricanes to consecutive BIG EAST Conference and tournament titles.
Following her collegiate career, Bateast played professionally for five years.
FSU Baseball | DH Nathan Cmeyla Postgame Press Conference (4/19/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Sunday, April 19
FSU Baseball | HC Link Jarrett Postgame Press Conference (4/19/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Sunday, April 19
FSU Baseball | LF Chase Williams Postgame Press Conference (4/18/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Saturday, April 18
FSU Baseball | HC Link Jarrett Postgame Press Conference (4/18/26 vs. Notre Dame)
Saturday, April 18
