After years of coaching the Lynx on the field, Lindsay Whalen will now coach the Lynx on the bench.
The Hall of Fame guard is joining Minnesota as an assistant coach under Cheryl Reeve, the team announced Saturday.
The Lynx also added Eric Thibault as the team’s associate head coach. Thibault has served as the Mystics’ head coach for the past two years after spending the previous 10 years on Washington’s staff under his father, Mike. Thibault is the brother of current Fairfield coach Carly Thibault, who worked on Whalen’s staff at the University of Minnesota. Éric Thibault was fired by Washington after last season.
He will fill the position vacated by Katie Smith, who left the organization after the season to join her alma mater, Ohio State, as an assistant coach.
But Whalen is the headliner of Saturday’s news. After being fired by the U after five seasons leading her alma mater’s program without an NCAA Tournament appearance, it was unclear if Whalen would ever return to coaching. She has spent the last 18 months away from the occupation, but has remained an ardent Lynx supporter during that time, sitting on the field for a number of games and even flying to New York for Game 5 of the Finals of the WNBA in October.
And now the Hutchinson, Minn., native is joining the organization where she won four WNBA titles as a player — all under Reeve’s tutelage — in an official capacity. His jersey hangs in the rafters of the Target Center. She is the franchise’s all-time leader in assists (1,384). Whalen joins a team that already includes longtime Lynx teammate Rebekkah Brunson.
“I’m so excited to be back with the Lynx and back with Coach and Becky,” Whalen said in a statement. “Eric and I have known each other for a long time as well, and for me, I couldn’t imagine joining a better team as I return to coaching and have my first opportunity to coach in the WNBA. We have a special group with this team and I can’t wait to get to work.
“I am excited to add Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff,” Reeve said in a statement. “Eric has extensive coaching experience in the WNBA as a head coach and assistant coach and is a WNBA champion. Lindsay adds a unique perspective as a Lynx legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. I look forward to working with both in our pursuit of another WNBA championship.” »
