Markisha Kastantin - Director of Player Personnel - Women's Basketball Support Staff

Markisha Kastantin

Title:
Director of Player Personnel

Markisha Kastantin (KASS-ten-teen) enters her fourth season as an assistant coach and sixth year overall with the Oklahoma women's basketball program in 2026-27.

A trusted member of Jennie Baranczyk's staff, Kastantin joined Oklahoma as Director of Player Development in 2021 before being promoted to assistant coach ahead of the 2023-24 season, while continuing to oversee player development.

In 2025-26, Oklahoma advanced to its second consecutive Sweet 16, finishing 26-8 with six wins over top-25 opponents, including a victory over No. 2 South Carolina that matched the highest-ranked win in program history. Kastantin helped develop All-SEC selections Raegan Beers and Aaliyah Chavez, with Beers earning All-America honors as a finalist for the Lisa Leslie Center of the Year award.

During Oklahoma's inaugural SEC campaign in 2024-25, the Sooners went 27-8 and reached their first Sweet 16 since 2013. Kastantin played a key role in the development of All-SEC standouts Raegan Beers and Payton Verhulst.

In her first season as an assistant coach, Oklahoma claimed the 2024 Big 12 regular season championship with a 15-3 conference record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Kastantin helped mentor Big 12 Co-Player of the Year Skylar Vann and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Payton Verhulst as the Sooners produced four All-Big 12 selections and two All-Americans.

Since arriving in Norman, Oklahoma has recorded five consecutive 20-win seasons, won two Big 12 championships and earned five NCAA Tournament appearances. Across her coaching career under Baranczyk, which began at Drake in 2015, Kastantin has helped teams compile 10 20-win seasons, eight NCAA Tournament appearances and five conference championships.

A former standout at Notre Dame, Kastantin (formerly Wright) helped lead the Fighting Irish to four straight Final Four appearances from 2012-15. She played in 138 career games, ranking 11th in program history, served as team captain and was a two-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection.

Kastantin began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Drake in 2015 before being promoted to assistant coach the following season. During her six years with the Bulldogs, Drake posted a 144-50 (.742) record, won three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships from 2017-19 and advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments.

She earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Notre Dame in 2015 and a master's degree in leadership development from Drake.

Kastantin and her husband, Tyler, reside in Norman with their daughter, Alivia.