2013 Atlanta Dream and WNBA Preview

[lethalweapon3]

I was just working an offseason post, mulling over whether Freddie might consider dumping one of the two jobs (I was going to suggest he opt to keep the GM job, for job security). Well...

The Atlanta Dream fires head coach/general manager Fred Williams

http://www.hoopfeed.com/content/2013/10/18/the-atlanta-dream-fires-head-coachgeneral-manager-fred-williams/

The Atlanta Dream has decided not to renew the contract of general manager/head coach Fred Williams for the 2014 season. Williams, whose contract runs through Nov. 30, will move to a consultant position as the team transitions to a new head coach and general manager.

“Coach Williams has been an instrumental part of our success since the team’s inception, and although we have decided to move in a different direction, we appreciate Fred’s dedicated service and ensuring that the Dream remained among the top teams in the WNBA,” said Atlanta Dream co-owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler. “He is a great teacher of the game, and is well respected by his peers.”

During his tenure as head coach, Williams led the Dream to a 24-20 regular season record and a 5-6 playoff record, including a trip to the 2013 WNBA Finals. He was promoted from assistant coach to general manager/head coach in August 2012, midway through the season, and signed a one-year contract in December 2012. He has been on staff with the Dream since the team’s first season in 2008. Previously, he served as head coach of the Utah Starzz and assistant coach of the Charlotte Sting.

“I’ve enjoyed helping build this franchise from day one, and I expect the Dream to continue to be one of the elite organizations in the WNBA,” Williams said.

... that's one way to keep job security, I guess!

He'll have loads more time to devote to his music career, too.

It does suck a little that a team that's had some success in the playoffs for much of its existence is going to try "a different direction" with its head coach for the second time in two seasons, but it does seem that this is an amicable transition. I'm not sure how great the pool of top-tier candidates are out there, though.

(I think GT's Machelle Joseph would do well at this level, if they were willing to give somebody local a fair shot. Dream assistant Julie Plank, who kinda got jobbed in Washington years ago, should get an interview. In the If-You-Can't-Beat-Em-Join-Em category, there's Minnesota assistant Shelley Patterson. Ooh, ooh, one more name... Hawks and Clemson great Tree Rollins, who also last coached the Mystics, and is the lead assistant in Chicago.)

Atlanta will now be competing with Phoenix for coaching candidates, as Russ Pennell intends to return to college hoops after great success turning the Mercury around, and Tulsa, who foolishly canned Gary Kloppenburg. Atlanta has the advantage of being in an easier conference, while Phoenix and Tulsa have superstar-quality young talent and fewer guaranteed contracts.

If the team elects to "move in a different direction" with Angel, at least he now knows it won't have his imprint all over it. Let's see where this thing goes. They've got at least a month to find Fred's replacement.

~lw3

Edited October 19, 2013 by lethalweapon3