Although she retired as a player after the 2019 season, her path to a career in coaching began in 2017 when she joined the Charlotte 49ers staff. Learn more about our use of cookies: cookie policy, What Sabrina Ionescu Needs To Take a Big Leap for the Big Apple, Phoenix Mercury Re-Sign Sophie Cunningham, Five Weeks of Nonstop Action: Previewing the 2023 Athletes Unlimited Fantasy Season, Phoenix Mercury Sign Moriah Jefferson to a Multi-Year Deal, Trade Report: Marina Mabrey to the Chicago Sky, Diamond Deshields to the Dallas Wings in a Four-Team Deal. THEN A BOMBSHELL hit at 11 p.m. Arizona time on Jan. 18: Weatherspoon withdrew her name from consideration after the Pelicans reportedly pushed to retain her. 39 overall) of the 1998 Draft, but injuries prevented the 6-1 forward from playing that season. Nygaard served as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces last season when she took a year off from high school coaching. I am honored and excited to join the Las Vegas Aces coaching staff, said Nygaard. In recent years, the club has added more than 150 trees to the Tanjong Course. Following her Olympic triumph, Coachman returned to Albany State to compete her education and surprised everyone when she announced her retirement at age 24. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. The Phoenix Mercury will announce Vanessa Nygaard as their head coach on Monday, sources told The Athletic. Duties included cleaning and maintaining sports facilities and even mending uniforms. Nygaard replaces Sandy Brondello, who didnt have her contract renewed last month after eight seasons and taking the Mercury to the 2021 WNBA Finals. Nurse is another example of a player who regressed from her last two seasons, which included an All-Star selection during her tenure with the New York Liberty. Bickley & Marottawelcomed 25 guests representing Arizona's teams and events to their show on Tuesday through Friday. In 2012-12, she took over as head coach of the girls basketball team at Windward School. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Vanessa is a great teacher of the game, with coaching experience at all levels including the WNBA and internationally with USA Basketball said Laimbeer. Back downtown, they had lunch at the Arrogant Butcher, an upscale restaurant across the street from the Footprint Center. "I don't know that it changed a lot," Pitman said of the impact of Weatherspoon's decision on Phoenix's search. The search comes after the Mercury spoke with Fortunately, Phoenix will have some cap room available once Taurasis salary comes off the books. Making her tournament debut is American Lilia Vu, who becamethe first Rolex First-Time Winner of 2023last week at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Nygaard was selected by the New York Liberty in the fourth round (39th overall pick) of the 1998 WNBA Draft. Here is a look at what Nygaard must do to make her tenure a successful one. Nygaard played in the WNBA in Cleveland (1999), Portland (2000-01), Miami (2002) and Los Angeles (2003) where she posted career averages of 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds, while connecting on 36.0 percent of her three-pointers in 107 games. She returned to the WNBA as an assistant coach with the San Antonio Silver Stars (2008) and helped guide the franchise to its only Finals appearance. PHOENIX The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury today named Vanessa Nygaard (NYE-guard) the 10th head coach in franchise history. Nygaard was named the Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year in 2020. She's the sixth consecutive former WNBA player to be named a head The WNBA also now has eight women serving as head coaches, the above list plus Marianne Stanley (Indiana Fever)and Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx). She got her first WNBA coaching position in 2008 as an assistant for the San Antonio Silver Stars and she most recently served as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces under coach Bill Laimbeer during the 2021 season. We are excited to welcome her and her family back to Arizona and to the Mercury family., I am grateful to Robert Sarver and Jim Pitman for the opportunity to join this great organization and lead this team, said Nygaard. A couple of hours later, she walked into the Footprint Center through a visitor's entrance undetected, a noticeable bounce in her step. She had just one idea: adding a picture of another championship trophy. She was just 16 years old when she was offered a scholarship in 1939. The Sun defeated the Aces 72-65. Beyond that, she is committed to growing the womens game on and off the floor in Phoenix and wants to be a part of the Valley basketball community yearround. Also, she works at Windward School in Los Angeles as the girls basketball head coach. But in Nygaard -- a former Stanford star who went to the Final Four three times from 1995 to 1997 -- Pitman saw an ability to create a cohesive team. PHOENIX -- During the car ride from her home in Ladera Heights, California, to the airport for her flight to Arizona to be introduced as the Phoenix Mercury's head coach, Vanessa Nygaard's 9-year-old son wished her luck and then told her she was the shepherd. WebA standout player at Stanford University from 1994-95 through 1997-98, Nygaard played in three NCAA Final Fours with the Cardinal. THE MERCURY'S SEARCH didn't start in earnest until Dec. 7, the day after it was announced that coach Sandy Brondello's contract wouldn't be renewed after eight seasons. in Scottsdale, Arizona She hung up thinking they were on the same page about "a lot of things." By 5:30 the next morning, they were heading to the airport for a flight back to Phoenix. She missed the 1998 and most of the 1999 seasons due to injury, but joined the starting lineup with the Portland Fire team in 2000 and 2001 and with the Miami Sol team in 2002. Despite not having the support of her parents, Coachman persevered. She currently serves as the head coach for the Phoenix Mercury. ", Nygaard: 'Ready for challenge' as Mercury coach, WNBA mock draft: Villanova's Siegrist soars into lottery pick, Serena, Griner honored at NAACP Image Awards, Sparks officially re-sign forward N. Ogwumike, Griner on court in 1st open workout since release, WNBA draft set for N.Y., to have 'Orange Carpet', 2-time All-Star C. Ogwumike back with Sparks, Griner officially rejoins Mercury in 'special signing', Yang joins Sparks after FIBA silver with China, WNBA trade grades: Why Wings, Liberty earn top marks in Saturday's four-team trade. I was on my way to receive the medal and I saw my name on the board. (The Mercury and Suns are part of the same ownership group.). She most recently worked as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces in 2021 and led Winwarda prep school in Los Angelesfor the past 10 years. Nygaard took over as head coach of the girls' basketball team at Windward School in 2012-13. Johnston had overseen work on Sentosas Serapong Course several years prior and and was invited by the club to stay on, first as an employee and later as the designer of a major overhaul. He valued a coach who could foster a close atmosphere and embrace the Mercury's three organizational pillars: winning championships, sustained success and being community leaders. WebVanessa Nygaard Twitter : vanygaard. She played college basketball at Stanford ''98. She also served as head athletic trainer for Russias CSKA Moscow during the 2008-09 off-season. Twitter: Data Provided By Her best season came with the Sol in 2002, when she averaged 7.9 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Lets stipulate that things wouldnt be normal around the Phoenix Mercury this season no matter what. I didnt want to let my country down, or my family and school, she said. Vanessa Nygaard has an approximated net worth that ranges between $1 Million $5 Million. In 2003, Nygaard became an assistant coach for the women's basketball team at California State University, Long Beach. Wright signed with the Laimbeer-helmed Liberty, ultimately playing for three seasons in New York (2015-16, 2019). Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. She joined USA Basketball in 2017, as an assistant coach, helping lead the team during the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup and the 2017 FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship. Before Nygaard was announced, the Mercury's big three of Taurasi, Griner and Diggins-Smith talked with their new coach. She is currently single. If I had gone to the Games and failed, there wouldnt be anyone to follow in my footsteps. The Phoenix Mercury named Scottsdale native Vanessa Nygaard as the teams next head coach on Monday. Everyone was pushing me, but they knew how stubborn and mean I was, so it was only so far they could push me.. The hires didn't impact Phoenix's search. At that point, the list had shrunk to 12, and though it was sometimes difficult to find their agents, Pitman began calling each of the remaining candidates the week of Dec. 13 and continued until Dec. 21. Eventually, he settled on four: Nygaard, Weatherspoon, Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Natalie Nakase and Stephanie White, former Indiana Fever and Vanderbilt head coach. Prior to turning pro, Nygaard was a four-year standout at Stanford, where she helped lead the Cardinal to three Final Fours. Heres the complete TV and streaming schedule: The same nine players in the Rolex Rankings Top 10 who played in Thailand will play in Singapore (includes finish at last weeks Honda LPGA Thailand): Of note, all of five major champions from 2022 are competing this week: Chevron champion Jennifer Kupcho(USA),KPMG Womens PGA champion Chun (South Korea), U.S. Womens Open champion Lee (Australia), Amundi Evian champion Henderson (Canada) and AIG Womens Open champion Ashleigh Buhai(South Africa). When I looked at the commitment to winning here, the resources from ownership, the partnership with the Suns, and the roster in place, I knew this was where I wanted to be. "She was someone that I thought was a really good candidate for us.". No portion of NBA.com may be duplicated, redistributed or manipulated in any form. But in reality, Pitman said, it was already down to two, and they knew who they wanted to offer the job to over the next 24 hours. In 2017, she joined USA Basketball as an assistant coach, helping lead the team during the 2017 FIBA America's Under-16 Championship and the 2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cup. "We just thought it was time for a new voice for our team," said general manager Jim Pitman, who was alongside Nygaard during her introductory news conference. She replaces Sandy Brondello, whose contract wasn't renewed after taking the Mercury to the WNBA Finals last season, and becomes the 10th head coach in the franchise's 25 years. Kozar noticed Mercury fans getting antsy on Twitter, complaining that their head-coaching vacancy would be the last to be filled. Sponsor exemptions went to two-time Olympian Tiffany Chan of Hong Kong, Chinas Yu Liuand Shi Yuting, world No. She was named the Cal-Hi Sports State Coach of the Year for 2019-20. In her hometown, Alice Avenue and Coachman Elementary School were named in her honor. There are a lot of aspects of the Mercurys 2022 season that will be totally out of Nygaards control, including whether or not Nurse plays next year, Phoenixs lack of draft picks and much more. All rights reserved. The Scottsdale, Arizona native helped USA Basketball to gold medals as an assistant coach for the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship and the 2018 FIBA U17 World Cup, and Nygaard was a court coach at the 2013 USA Womens U16 National Team Trials. And Pitman liked that she was committed to the franchise and to living in Arizona year-round. In January 2009, she was named as an assistant coach for the Washington Mystics. Last season, Tanishas impact on our WNBA Finals run was immeasurable as we navigated the challenges of the bubble, and Im looking forward to working with both of them as a staff in 2021.. Griner made a strong case for MVP during the 2021 season and certainly wouldve won Finals MVP had Phoenix won the championship. USWNT breezes to 2023 SheBelieves Cup title, but World Cup roster questions she would be at home in Florida practicing, How to watch, whos playing inthe 2023 Darius Rucker Intercollegiate golf tournament, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce talks representation, community work and Black Beauty, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce talks legacy, retirement plans, motherhood and being a hot girl, U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Hall of Fame (2004). If they stayed the night, the Mercury put them up at the Hotel Palomar, just down the street from the arena, where visiting teams stay. He told them all he was hoping to have a new coach hired by Jan. 15 but wasn't going to set it as a firm deadline. This season, Charlotte earned a trip to the WNIT. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. She also has experience coaching Team USA youth teams. Tanisha Wright joined the Aces coaching staff prior to the 2020 season after a 14-year WNBA playing career, helping the team to a franchise-best 18-4 record and its second WNBA Finals appearance. A still image of Brittney Griner back on the Mercury's practice court Wednesday drew nearly 1 million views on Twitter alone. "It left my candidates on the table," Pitman said. After Vanessagraduated from Stanford, she started her six-year career in the WNBA. "It was long enough to really get a flavor for what their basketball knowledge is, what they're all about as a person and how they could help make the Mercury a better basketball team," Pitman said. ", "There's a commitment in this league to honoring diversity and representation that maybe other leagues aren't doing, but we are definitely doing that here," she said. New Phoenix Mercury head coach Vanessa Nygaard holds up a Mercury jersey with general manager Jim Pitman at her introductory press conference on Monday. By accessing any information beyond this page, you agree to abide by the NBA.com, ACES ABROAD: Domestic League Update (Feb. 14-20, 2023), Aces Re-Sign Seven-Year Veteran Center And WNBA Champion Kiah Stokes, Aces Re-Sign Eight-Year Veteran Guard And WNBA Champion Sydney Colson. Davis. PHOENIX -- As Phoenix Mercury president Vince Kozar walked toward the security checkpoint at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport the morning of Jan. 5, the masked agent checking IDs and boarding passes looked familiar. World War II had forced the cancellation of both the 1940 and 1944 Games, but Coachman would finally get her golden opportunity in 1948. Las Vegas (April 14, 2021)Las Vegas Aces Head Coach Bill Laimbeer announced today that the team is adding former WNBA player and coach Vanessa Nygaard to the teams coaching staff. While her best statistical season came in 2000 with Portland, perhaps the most impactful stint was in Miami where then-Sol head coach Ron Rothstein saw a future coach in Nygaard and encouraged her to pursue it as a career. I understood where the mayor stood, but to me, just to be home from across the water was fine with me, just to see my mama.. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; When Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer got word Friday afternoon that Vanessa Nygaard is expected to be named the Phoenix Mercury's new head coach, she was elated.. Showing Editorial results for vanessa nygaard. When Pitman asked Nygaard whether she wanted to be in Arizona, she said yes. Nygaard was named as the head coach of the Phoenix Mercury on January 24, 2022.[1]. PHOENIX The three-time WNBA Champion Phoenix Mercury today named Vanessa Nygaard (NYE-guard) the 10th head coach in franchise history. But what she can control is whether or not Phoenix hiring its first new head coach since 2014 will ultimately prove to be the right decision or if the organization will have sellers remorse after parting ways with Brondello. Coachman would go on to win 10 consecutive AAU outdoor high jump titles from 1939-1948. She became an assistant coach for the womens basketball team at California State University, Long Beach in 2003. Nygaard has resigned as the Windward coach and plans to move her family to the Phoenix area, with which she is familiar. Nygaard is a 1998 graduate of Stanford where she helped to lead the Cardinal to three Final Fours while a standout under Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer, the all-time wins leader in NCAA womens history. Ochoa set a tournament scoring record of 20-under 268 atTana Merah Country Club, also in Singapore. American basketball coach and former player, "MERCURY NAMES VANESSA NYGAARD HEAD COACH", Pepperdine University coaches profile and interview, April 27, 2005 Houston Comets press release of Nygaard's retirement from the WNBA, January 6, 2009 Washington Mystics press release of Nygaard's joining the coaching staff, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vanessa_Nygaard&oldid=1141742959, Basketball players from Scottsdale, Arizona, Parade High School All-Americans (girls' basketball), Pepperdine Waves women's basketball coaches, Stanford Cardinal women's basketball players, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 15:36. He had a 9:46 a.m. flight, and Kozar was hoping no one would notice him. Facebook; Twitter; Facebook Messenger; Pinterest; Email; print; PHOENIX -- During the car ride from her home in Ladera Heights, California, to the airport for her flight to Arizona to be introduced as the Phoenix Mercury's head coach, Vanessa Nygaard's 9-year-old son wished her luck and then told her she was the shepherd. The Mercury wanted to interview her in person. As Black Heritage Month comes to a close and we look ahead to Womens History Month in March, On Her Turf looks back at Coachmans trail-blazing journey. She is 47 years old. Stanford went 113-14 in her four years in the Bay Area, including 69-2 in Pac-10 play, and she earned All-Conference First Team honors as a senior. A Scottsdale native, Nygaard was announced as the 10th coach in Mercury history on Monday after a nine-year stint as a head high school coach. She was head coach at Windward for 10 seasons. 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