John Whisenant

John Whisenant (born June 18, 1945, Gore, Oklahoma, United States) is an American former head coach for the New York Liberty in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).^[1] He graduated in 1966 with a B.S. degree in physical education from New Mexico State University and earned an M.A. in history from Pittsburg State University.

Career

Whisenant's nickname is "Whiz". He started out as a basketball player at Connors State College and continued playing at New Mexico State University.

Whisenant began his coaching career at Coffeyville Community College where his record was 48-10 (83%). Afterwards he joined the coaching staff at the University of New Mexico where he would accumulate a record of 137-62 (69%) including two WAC championships. He later served as the vice president of basketball operations for the New Mexico Slam in the International Basketball League where his record was 51-35 (59%).

He spent four seasons as the head coach at Arizona Western University where he won three league championships at 97-30 (76%). Later he coached his son's team at the AAU level, where he dominated with a record of 176-16 (92%). While serving as a consultant for the Sacramento Kings under the Maloof family, he became the assistant manager for the Sacramento Monarchs. Whisenant became the general manager the following year, then took over as head coach in the middle of 2003. In 2005, he won the WNBA Coach of the Year Award and his Monarchs won the WNBA championship title over the Connecticut Sun - the first title for owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.

In light of the wide variety of players he has coached in his career - men and women, amateurs, college players and professionals - many admire Whisenant for his ability to achieve a winning record at all levels.

Sources have quoted Whisenant expressing no interest in the head coaching position for the National Basketball Association's Sacramento Kings. He did interview for the position, however, Eric Musselman was named the Kings' head coach on June 2, 2006. Whisenant later coached the Monarchs to its second straight Western Conference Championship title, by beating the Los Angeles Sparks. However, the team lost in the WNBA Finals to the Detroit Shock.

After the season ended, on October 25, Whisenant announced that he was resigning from his coaching position, although he would remain as the Monarchs' general manager.

On October 25, 2012, the Liberty announced that Whisenant would be leaving the team.^[2]

Outside of coaching, Whisenant is a partner in a highly successful commercial real estate firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[3]

References

External links

• WNBA profile
• WNBA Coach of the year
• Muskogee Phoenix article
• October 25, 2006 Sacramento Bee article on his resignation from the Monarchs' coaching position