Hughes Named Coach of the Year
NEW YORK, Sept. 8, 2007 -- San Antonio Silver Stars head coach Dan Hughes is the recipient of the 2007 WNBA Coach of the Year award presented by AOL.com, the WNBA announced today. Hughes received 20 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Hughes becomes only the second coach to win multiple WNBA Coach of the Year Awards, joining former Houston Comets mentor Van Chancellor, who earned the honor three straight times from 1997-1999.
In a season in which numerous WNBA head coaches turned in outstanding efforts, Hughes' 20 votes topped the 14 tallies Phoenix Mercury head coach Paul Westhead received. The six-point margin of victory for Hughes ties the mark for the second-closest voting in league history. In 2005, John Whisenant (Sacramento Monarchs) garnered six more votes than Mike Thibault (Connecticut Sun), while in 2004, Suzie McConnell-Serio (Minnesota Lynx) edged Thibault by a single vote.
Hughes led the Silver Stars, who earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, to a 20-14 record, a 14-game improvement from the team's record in 2006 (13-21). The 20 wins ties the franchise record for wins in a season, which was set in 2002 - the last year the franchise reached the playoffs prior to this season. In his three years with San Antonio, Hughes has reshaped the roster and converted the team into a championship contender.
The 2007 edition of the Silver Stars set franchise records for totals points (2,517), total rebounds (1,087), field goals made (923), three-point shots made (207), assists (567) and steals (283).
Prior to joining San Antonio, Hughes coached four seasons with the Cleveland Rockers and one with the Charlotte Sting. Over the course of his career, the Lowell, Ohio native has compiled a 116-136 record, including a 22-10 mark in 2001 when he won his first WNBA Coach of the Year Award.
Below are the voting results for 2007 WNBA Coach of the Year Award presented by AOL.com as well as a list of past recipients.
2007 COACH OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AOL.COM RESULTS
Votes
Coach
Team
20
Dan Hughes
San Antonio Silver Stars
14
Paul Westhead
Phoenix Mercury
6
Bill Laimbeer
Detroit Shock
4
Patty Coyle
New York Liberty
3
Bo Overton
Chicago Sky
2
Tree Rollins
Washington Mystics
1
Jenny Boucek
Sacramento Monarchs
1
Anne Donovan
Seattle Storm
COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Year
Coach
Team
2007
Dan Hughes
San Antonio Silver Stars
2006
Mike Thibault
Connecticut Sun
2005
John Whisenant
Sacramento Monarchs
2004
Suzie McConnell Serio
Minnesota Lynx
2003
Bill Laimbeer
Detroit Shock
2002
Marianne Stanley
Washington Mystics
2001
Dan Hughes
Cleveland Rockers
2000
Michael Cooper
Los Angeles Sparks
1999
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
1998
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
1997
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
Votes
Coach
Team
20
Dan Hughes
San Antonio Silver Stars
14
Paul Westhead
Phoenix Mercury
6
Bill Laimbeer
Detroit Shock
4
Patty Coyle
New York Liberty
3
Bo Overton
Chicago Sky
2
Tree Rollins
Washington Mystics
1
Jenny Boucek
Sacramento Monarchs
1
Anne Donovan
Seattle Storm
COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
Year
Coach
Team
2007
Dan Hughes
San Antonio Silver Stars
2006
Mike Thibault
Connecticut Sun
2005
John Whisenant
Sacramento Monarchs
2004
Suzie McConnell Serio
Minnesota Lynx
2003
Bill Laimbeer
Detroit Shock
2002
Marianne Stanley
Washington Mystics
2001
Dan Hughes
Cleveland Rockers
2000
Michael Cooper
Los Angeles Sparks
1999
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
1998
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
1997
Van Chancellor
Houston Comets
