The Sparks' new head coach

[StevenHW]

Today, from the L.A. Sparks website:


SPARKS PRESIDENT JOHNNY BUSS ANNOUNCES HEAD COACHING CHANGES


"I would like to announce that Henry Bibby will not be coaching the remainder of the Sparks 2005 season. Joe "Jellybean" Bryant will take over the helm at this time and until Joe and I have time to discuss the duties for the remainder of the 2005 WNBA season.

Henry and I have come to a very cordial and mutually agreed upon understanding to part ways. This, in no way, will be regarded by us as a "firing." We both understood that a different direction would be the best for both Henry and the Sparks.

I understand from Henry's viewpoint that he came into the Sparks without much time off from coaching after leaving the basketball program from the University of Southern California. He has mentioned to me that maybe taking some "time off" before undertaking the Sparks job may have been more appropriate. The Sparks had the opening for a head coach, and I asked Henry if he would accept the position. He did, and I will always be thankful that he stood up to take the challenge regardless of the need to take a rest from coaching.

Again, Henry Bibby was not fired from the Sparks. It is an amiable situation for us both and I wish Henry the best in the future."

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[StevenHW]

From the Los Angeles Times:

SPARKS PUT AN END TO BIBBY ERA
Team will announce the firing of its coach today, but in the middle of it all L.A. loses to Sacramento, 72-63, under assistant Bryant.

By Mike Terry, Times Staff Writer


The Henry Bibby Era with the Sparks is over.

Bibby, who was not on the bench for the Sparks' 72-63 loss to Sacramento at Staples Center on Tuesday, will be fired as coach today after a meeting with team President Johnny Buss.

No team official would comment publicly on Bibby's situation Tuesday, and a statement issued before the game said "further comment would be issued tomorrow afternoon." But according to sources high within the organization, Buss decided to make the change with five games left in the regular season.

Bibby's absence from the game Tuesday was termed for "personal reasons." Joe Bryant, who joined the staff three weeks ago, was given the head coaching duties for Tuesday's game. Shelley Patterson and Bob Webb, assistants under Bibby, were on the bench with Bryant.

Coincidence or not, Laker star Kobe Bryant, Joe's son, was at the game.

Joe Bryant said he was notified about 30 minutes before the game that he would be running the team. He did not consider Tuesday's effort an audition.

"There wasn't much time to think about too much," Bryant said. "I still had butterflies out there so I still love the game. But, like I told you guys a long time ago, I didn't come into this for this position. I'm here for the joy of the game and to help the girls. And it's really still the same thing."

Like Bryant, the players were also told the situation just before the game, according to guard Tamecka Dixon.

"We were surprised," said Dixon, who played nine minutes and scored two points. "You prepare to play the game, and to come and find that out right before the game … of course, it was on everybody's minds."

Bibby, who reportedly had a two-year deal, will end his only season with a 13-15 record. He is the third coach in franchise history, along with Linda Sharp in 1997 and Karleen Thompson, to last a season or less. He is the third Spark coach to have a losing record.

Bibby's season was sabotaged as much by injuries to key players — from Lisa Leslie and Nikki Teasley to Mwadi Mabika and Laura Macchi — as it was by the Sparks' inability to string a winning streak longer than three games. Los Angeles is fighting to make the playoffs and trying to avoid its second losing season.

That dubious distinction drew one game closer with the Sparks' third defeat in four games to Sacramento this season. The loss was doubly felt considering Phoenix, holding the fourth and final playoff spot in the West, defeated Detroit. Minnesota also won Tuesday, moving past the Sparks into fifth place by percentage points.

Los Angeles was trailing 21-12 at the 10:58 mark of the first half when Sacramento went cold for nearly six minutes while the Sparks ripped off 20 consecutive points to go ahead by 11.

But the Monarchs were able to absorb the blow. By halftime, Sacramento was back in front 37-35.

"We were throwing the ball away and giving them offensive opportunities during that run," Sacramento Coach John Whisenant said. "Most of our nine first-half turnovers were in that six-minute period. We let them fluster us."

The composure was back in the second half. Sacramento would give back the lead only once in the second half; a three-point basket by Mabika put Los Angeles up, 59-58, with 4:07 to play. But the Monarchs' defense clamped down, holding the Sparks to one more basket and two free throws in the last four minutes.

"I kind of hope we knocked them out of the playoffs because I don't want to see them," Whisenant said. "They've got too much talent there, if they ever get it put together."

Rebekkah Brunson and DyMya Walker each had 17 points for Sacramento (21-8), which needs one more win or one more Seattle loss to clinch the West. Kara Lawson chipped in with 16.

Mabika had 12 points for the Sparks (13-16) and Lisa Leslie had 11.
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[hoopsfan]

Thank god he got the boot. What a horrible coach. If you get fired from USC who was never a good bball school...well, that should have been a clue. Any team with Bibby in charge will never win squat.

 

[6th]

Thank god he got the boot. What a horrible coach. If you get fired from USC who was never a good bball school...well, that should have been a clue. Any team with Bibby in charge will never win squat.

WORD!

 

[Monty'sBiggestFan]

Hey now...Bibby did have a good tournament run a few years ago with his USC squad...

My BIGGGEST beef with his hire was that they reached for someone who did not seem to respect the league he was walking into. When the guy essentially says he knows all he needs to know about the WNBA because he scrimmaged against Leslie in the offseason that was the red flag to me. When I heard Karleen Thompson was about to be announced as an assistant coach in Houston I figured the Sparks front office was destined to screw up the head coach hire.

 

[StevenHW]

Personally, I think the Sparks should hire Ann Meyers to be the Head Coach next year.

It's a win-win situation: she gets to coach her favorite team and the player (Lisa Leslie) that she always sucks up to. PLUS, we won't have to put up with her announcing on TV!

 

[slugking50]

Henry Bibby's Brother has a kidney problem I guess. Thats the personal reason why Bibby resigned basically.

 

[hoopsfan]

Sad about his brother...but I still think he got the boot. Nice spin though.