Westhead heads north to Seattle
In a not-so-surprising move, Phoenix Mercury head coach Paul Westhead resigned today to accept a position as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Seattle Sonics.
Westhead, the only person to ever coach championship teams in the NBA and WNBA, joins the staff of P.J. Carlesimo. The 68-year-old Westhead spoke highly of his new boss in a report to The Associated Press.
“P.J. and I have worked together and known each other for many years, and I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Westhead said.
There’s no hard feelings from the Mercury, though. These words from the Arizona Republic.
Mercury general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale released a statement praising Westhead’s work.
“We are unendingly grateful for the commitment and leadership Paul provided from the day he joined the Mercury organization and the role he played in bringing our franchise and city their first professional basketball championship,” she said. “We wish him the best in his new venture.”
No announcement on a new coach, but the search will begin immediately, according to Drysdale.
I got to witness Westhead coach the Mercury twice this past season - once as a spectator and the other from behind press row - and he really knows how to get the most out of his players. A coach with his abilities will be tough to replace as the Mercury attempt to repeat.
(PHOTO CREDIT: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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1 opinion for Westhead heads north to Seattle
Rich Carlson
Oct 9, 2007 at 12:34 am
Westhead is a quality coach, and Phoenix was lucky to have him for as long as they did.
I think that more and more former NBA players will view the WNBA as a good way to get experience before jumping to better jobs in the NBA…see Tree Rollins.
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