(Non-Monarchs) - New Phoenix Mercury coach

[StevenHW]

From WNBA's website:

http://www.wnba.com/mercury/news/westhead_coach_051011.html


PAUL WESTHEAD NAMED MERCURY HEAD COACH



PHOENIX – Paul Westhead, who guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1980 NBA World Championship, and a veteran of more than 30 years of coaching at the professional and college levels, has been named head coach of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, the team announced today. In accordance with team policy, terms of the multi-year contract were not disclosed.

Westhead won an NBA title as coach of the L.A. Lakers in 1980.
Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty Images


"This is a very exciting day for the Phoenix Mercury and our fans," said Phoenix Mercury General Manager Seth Sulka. "Paul’s extensive experience in the professional game, as well as being an excellent communicator and accomplished teacher, will be a huge benefit to the Mercury organization as we strive to bring a championship to the city."

The fifth head coach in Mercury history, Westhead comes to the Mercury after serving as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Orlando Magic for two seasons (2003-2005). He served as head coach of the Lakers from 1979-82. Early in the 1979-80 season, Westhead was elevated from assistant to head coach, and with a team led by center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and rookie guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson, guided the Lakers to a 4-2 series win over Philadelphia in the 1980 NBA Finals. He has the third highest winning percentage among all-time Lakers coaches (112-50, .691).

"It is a tremendous opportunity for me to coach in the WNBA and be a part of the Phoenix organization," said Westhead. "I am confident that I can help move the Mercury forward and get into the mix of the playoffs and beyond. I love the game of basketball and have dedicated the majority of my life to it. I want to share what I know about the game with the players here and together help make the Mercury successful."

Known for his teams that produced fast-breaking, high-scoring offenses, Westhead has also been the head coach for the following NBA teams: Chicago (1982-83) and Denver (1990-92), compiling a 184-224 (.451) record. He has also been the head coach in the ABA (2000-01) and in the Japanese Pro League (2001-03).

Westhead is in high demand as a clinician as well. He is sought after all over the world for his fast-breaking, high-scoring offensive techniques. He has spent time helping with USA Basketball programs and was a guest clinician for the 2005 USA women’s youth development festival teams this summer in Colorado Springs, CO.

Westhead also had tremendous success on the NCAA level. He has guided collegiate programs at LaSalle, Loyola Marymount and George Mason, compiling a record of 285-223 (.561) in 18 seasons. His most memorable stint was 1985-90, when he led Loyola Marymount to a 105-48 record in five seasons, including three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and a berth in the Elite Eight in 1990. Since 1980, Westhead is one of two coaches to have appeared in the NCAA Tournament and won an NBA Championship, the other being New York Knicks Head Coach Larry Brown.

During the past two summers (2004-05), Westhead assisted the NBA in one of their key initiatives, Basketball without Borders program in Treviso, Italy. This program serves as a basketball instructional camp in Europe for young people designed to promote friendship, healthy living and education through sport.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Westhead graduated from St. Joseph’s (PA) in 1961. He and his wife, Cassie, have four children: Monica, Patrice, Paul Jr. and Julie.

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[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Interesting...I don't recall any of the Westhead teams being devotees to defense...witht that said....if they keep that trio of Taurasi, Taylor and DeForge together for the 06 season, he should be able to go as high octane in the offense dept as he's been want to do. I like the pick and it makes more sense than the last two pre-Graf coaches they hired.

 

[Purple Reign]

Does not the WNBA hire women anymore. First Mugsy Bogues then Dave Cowens now this guy Westhead. And don't they know that these ex-NBA guys that have no exposure to the Women's game fail more than they suceed (i.e. Dee Brown, Michael Adams, Henry Bibby)

What the league needs to do is bring midlevel NCAA women college coaches to coach these teams, and make it worth their while. Then you may be able to bring over the Summits, VanDerveers and the like.

Leave these NBA retreads alone.

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

I don't want to see midlevel coaches from the women's NCAA ranks in this league just for the sake of having a woman at the helm. First of all, they typically are making more money and have more security than they'll have in the W. So I don't see why anybody from the college ranks worth entrusting my 10 million dollar investment (if the league's franchise fee is to be believed accurate assessment of the worth of a WNBA team) would leave their college job to come to the W - male or female. VandeVeer and Summitt make way too much money and wield way too much power in their respective fiefdoms to want to trade all that in for a trigger happy win now owner.

I'll bet money right now, my bottom dollar as a matter of fact, that when they do start hiring women in this league again it will be former players who will get the nod. What concerns me however, is that they are passing over the 2nd chairs again. At some point these folks who have been sitting as the top level assistant to a W coach need to start getting hired for a top job and not get run out of town when their team gets hit with the injury bug or late camp arrival bug or bad GM moves bug.

I remember when Bogues got the job in Charlotte someone posted a list of female coaches who were "available" for that job. Those women were available because they had been fired from their college job or had been fired at least once in the WNBA. So the candidate pool is pretty slim to start with, then you add on top of that the declining number of women who are being hired at the top ranks at high school and college level - which is indicative of a problem/trend that is in danger of becoming systemic. The WNBA didn't create it, it only operates within it.

From a purely coaching standpoint, Westhead is a good fit for the three of the players Phoenix features. His hire makes more sense than the guy they had before they hired Graf who was a total and complete out of thin air hire. That is, until you consider the completely baffling hire of Cynthia Cooper before him. If the Westhead gives a crap about coaching in the W and adequately respects the league, he will fair much better than Adams, Brown and Bibby all of whom brought some level of the baggage with them to their job.

 

[RoyalDiva]

Agree with Monty. Bottom business line is the product. Teams should hire based on who can do the best job regardless of gender.