The former Washington Mystics head coach has found a landing spot.
On Saturday, the Minnesota Lynx announced that former Washington Mystics head coach Eric Thibault was named their new Associate Head Coach. Thibault replaces Katie Smith, a one-time Mystics player herself, who is now ann assistant coach for the Ohio State Buckeyes women’s basketball team.
In the release, President of Basketball Operations and Head Coach Cheryl Reeve said:
I am excited to add both Eric and Lindsay to our coaching staff. Eric has vast experience coaching in the WNBA as both a head and an 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 quest for another WNBA Championship.
In addition, Thibault said the following:
I’m thrilled to be joining Cheryl’s staff and to be part of the Minnesota Lynx organization. The players and staff have built an incredible winning culture, and I’m excited to do my part as we pursue a WNBA Championship.
In addition to Thibault, former Minnesota Lynx player Lindsay Whalen was named an assistant coach.
Minnesota is coming off a 2024 WNBA Finals appearance, their first since 2017.
While Washington’s former staff is being hired elsewhere, the Mystics are still searching for candidates to fill a number of organizational vacancies, especially the head coach and general manager positions. Kareem Copeland of the Washington Post reported earlier this week that the team has begun conducting interviews for those two vacancies.
It seems unlikely that the Mystics will hire either position before the expansion draft later this week. Teams recently submitted their respective lists of six protected players who the Golden State Valkyries will be unable to select; all other rostered players are fair game.