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gia · Guest

Note the last paragraph
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Storm narrows coaching search to four
By Jayda Evans
Seattle Times staff reporter

The Storm will focus on four finalists for its coaching vacancy created by the departure of Lin Dunn.

Former Sonics scout Mike Thibault and Storm assistant coach Carrie Graf are two of the finalists, according to sources.

Seattle's WNBA franchise narrowed the list from as many as 10 candidates after a round of interviews Monday, General Manager Billy McKinney said.

McKinney expects to make a decision on the new coach within four to six weeks.

"There are two that stand out, but I wanted to be very thorough," McKinney said. "I wanted to make sure I interviewed everybody possible."

Thibault attended Sonics practice with McKinney on Monday. The two have a history that stretches back to when McKinney played for the Chicago Bulls during the 1985-86 season and Thibault was an assistant coach/director of scouting.

Thibault, 52, has been coaching for 34 years. He has earned two NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach/director of scouting (1980 and '82), a CBA title as head coach of the Omaha Racers (1993) and a silver medal at the 1995 Pan American Games. He stepped down as assistant coach of the Milwaukee Bucks in August.

A native Australian, Graf was interviewed by the Phoenix Mercury for their head-coaching position, but the job went to former Suns player John Shumate.

Graf, 35, is a former point guard who started coaching when she was 25. She's been an assistant coach on silver- and bronze-winning Australian national teams, as well as a head coach on three WNBL championship teams, including two with Storm forward Lauren Jackson. In the WNBA, Graf was a Mercury assistant for three seasons, under Cheryl Miller in 1998 and '99 and under Cynthia Cooper in 2001.

"There's no backlash," said McKinney of Graf flirting with Phoenix. "It's all part of being in this business. A lot of the candidates that I talked to were talking to other teams."

After three seasons, including last summer's 17-15 finish and the franchise's first playoff berth, Dunn resigned on Sept. 3 and returned to her home in Dresden, Tenn.

McKinney has been busy with his broadcasting job as Sonics color analyst, but insists that his desire to be meticulous is the reason why the interviewing process has been slow. The Storm isn't the only team without a coach. Portland, Minnesota and San Antonio still have vacant positions.

"We're not behind at all," McKinney said. "And if I can get it done sooner, I will."

While the Storm organization waits for a head coach, Gary Kloppenburg, a third-year assistant, and Missy Bequette, director of basketball operations, have been scouting for the team. McKinney also made a trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to watch a tournament.

In an unusual move, McKinney said whoever is named coach will be required to keep the Storm staff intact, including Graf, if she is not selected as head coach.

mb · Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2002 12:12 pm Post subject:

As much as Carrie Graf deserves to be a head coach, I hope they Mercury get both her and Kloppenburg as assistants.

SEA has a interesting way of doing things.

gia · Guest

And they move slower than Congress! 4-6 more weeks!

Forcing a new coach to keep assistants is a bit odd. If they like their assts that much they should promote one of them.