DeAirra Tucker joined the women's basketball staff for the start of the 2016-17 season as the Director of Basketball Operations and was named an assistant coach before the 2017-18 season. Tucker joined the Jags just a couple years removed from a successful playing career as a student-athlete at IUPUI.
After transferring from Western Michigan at the conclusion of her sophomore season, Tucker quickly emerged as a star with the Jaguars. In her first season at IUPUI, Tucker averaged 12.4 points per game, earning Second-Team All Summit League and All-Newcomer recognition. She helped push her team to its first ever Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) selection, scoring 17 points in the postseason debut.
During her senior year, Tucker raised her scoring average to 15.0 points per game, ranking fourth in the Summit League with 17.4 points per game against conference opponents. That season, she was a three-time Summit League Player of the Week selection, and ultimately, was named a First-Team All-Summit League selection for the phenomenal showing. She took the Jaguars back to the WNIT, and this time, keyed the Jags to their first-ever postseason victory with a 19-point effort against Central Michigan in the first round.
Prior to her college career, Tucker led Ben Davis High school to a perfect 30-0 record during her senior season (2008-09), winning the IHSAA State Championship and a number one overall ranking according to USA Today’s Top 25 poll, ESPN’s Rise Poll, and Rivalshigh.com Poll. She was an All-State selection, in addition to being named to both the North-South All-Star game and the City County All-Star game.
Tucker lives in Indianapolis with her husband Kody and three-year old son Xavier.
