Even though the WNBA might appear to have entered a deep slumber after the end of the 2013 season, the waters are not entirely still. Phoenix solved the departure of Russ Pennell by hiring Sandy Brondello to be their new head coach, and it seems that Atlanta and Tulsa are actively hunting to fill their vacated positions.
Jayda Evans of the Seattle Times reports that both teams have been in contact with Seattle assistant coach Jenny Boucek. Evans wrote the following after the Phoenix Mercury hired Sandy Bronello:
The Phoenix hire leaves two WNBA head coaching positions open in Tulsa and Atlanta and Storm assistant coach Jenny Boucek is in conversations with both teams. Tulsa fired former Storm assistant coach Gary Kloppenburg after an improved season for the Shock. Tulsa finished 9-25 and 11-23 in his two seasons — the team’s best since relocating from Detroit in 2010.
Atlanta reached the WNBA Finals for a third time in the organization’s history but after being swept by Minnesota in embarrassing fashion, it fired first-year coach Fred Williams. The Dream was eight days removed from the best-of-five series when the decision was announced.
“In a nutshell, I am in conversations with the teams but it has to be the right fit,” Boucek said via phone on Friday. “I’m in a good situation here (Seattle).”
Jenny Boucek was previously the head coach at Sacramento beginning with the 2007 season. She was fired midway through the 2009 season, the last season for the Monarchs. Boucek compiled a 40-41 record with a 2-4 record in the post-season.
For Dream fans, this leaves one to wonder why the Dream hasn't hired off the bench - both Julie Plank and Joe Ciampi have head coaching experience. Furthermore, the pace of play of those Monarchs teams doesn't quite match the "Run With the Dream" philosophy of Meadors and Williams. Undoubtedly all questions will have answers before the beginning of the 2014 season.