I decided to take a look at the experience level of the coaches in NBA, WNBA, Women’s Big Ten, and Men’s Big Ten. I realize there are different factors that determine the success of coaches, but experience is definitively one of the factors that may predict success. In addition, maybe the amount of experience in the coaches indicates the seriousness of a school or professional organization.
The following stats are all looking at the present coaches of each of these teams, and what there experience was when they were first hired by this team. For example, Gregg Popovich has been head coach of the Spurs since 1996, but I am looking at what his experience was when he was hired for that position.
Total Years of Experience When First Hired
Women’s Big 10 Coaches. 19.9 years
Men’s Big 10 Coaches. 19.8 years
NBA Coaches. 15.8 years
WNBA Coaches. 13.8 years
Most Experienced Coaching Hires
Tom Tibedeau, Knicks 36 years NBA
Rick Carlyle, Pacers. 35 years NBA
Nick Nurse, 76er’s. 32 years NBA
Curt Miller, Spark. 30 years WNBA
Jen Jenson, Iowa. 30 years WB10
Joe McKeown, Northwestn 29 years WB10
Fran McCaffery, Iowa. 28 years MB10
Dawn Plitzuwilt, U.Minn 28 years WB10
Mike Rhoades, Penn St 27 years MB10
Eric Musselman, USC 27 years MB10
Latricia Trammel, Wings 27 years WNBA
Head Coaching Experience When First Hired (Any Level as HC)
Women’s Big Ten Coaches 9.4 years
Men’s Big Ten Coaches 7.6 years
NBA Coaches 6.2 years
WNBA Coaches 3.9 years
Coaching Hires With Most Head Coaching Experience
Billy Donavan, Bulls 26 years NBA
Rick Carlyle, Pacers 24 years NBA
Doc Rivers, Bucks 23 years NBA
Joe McKeown, Northwestern 22 years WB10
Curt Miller, Sparks 19 years WNBA
Mike Rhoades, Penn St 19 years MB10
Kim Arico, Michigan 17 years WB10
Mick Cronin, UCLA 16 years MB10
Dawn Plitzuwelt, U. of Mn 16 years WB10
Quinn Snyder, Hawks 15 years NBA
Kevin Williams, Maryland 15 years MB10
Coaches Hired With No Head Coaching Experience
Women’s Big Ten Coaches 11% (2/18)
NBA Coaches 27% (8/30)
Men’s Big Ten Coaches 28% (5/18)
WNBA Coaches 50% (6/12)
Coaches Hired With No Head Coaching Experience
Women’s Big 10- Jenson (Iowa), Cori Close (UCLA)
NBA Coaches- Jamal Mosley (Magic), Brian Keefe (Mystics), Charles Lee (Hornets), Willie Green (Pelicans), William Hardy (Jazz), JJ Redick (Lakers), Steve Kerr (Warriors)
Men’s Big 10- Greg Gard (Wisconsin), Ben Johnson (Minnesota), Chris Collins (NW), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Jake Diebler (Ohio State)
WNBA Coaches- Eric Thibault (Mystics), Tanisha Wright (Dream), Becky Hammon (Aces), Christie Sides (Fever), Noelle Quinn (Storm), Nate Tribley (Mercury)
Coaches Hired With Less Than 10 Years Experience
Women’s Big 10 Coaches 6% (1/18)
Men’s Big 10 Coaches 6% (1/18)
NBA Coaches 23% (7/30)
WNBA Coaches 33% (4/12)
Women’s B10- Katie Geralds (Purdue)
Men’s Big 10- Fred Hoiberg (Nebraska)
NBA- Willie Green (Pelicans), William Hardy (Jazz), JJ Redick (Lakers), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Chauncey Billups (Blazers)
WNBA- Tanisha Wright (Dream), Becky Hammon (Ace), Teresa Weatherspoon (Sky), Noelle Quinn (Storm)
Hired With No Head Coaching Experience and Less Than 10 Years Experience
Women’s Big 10 0% 0/18
Men’s Big 10 0% 0/18
NBA 17% 5/30
WNBA 25% 3/12
NBA Coaches- Willie Green (Pelicans), William Hardy (Jazz), JJ Redick (Lakers), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Chauncey Billups (Blazers)
Conclusions
1- In the WNBA and the NBA, coaches can be hired with very little coaching experience if they have professional playing experience.
2- College playing experience and pro playing experience seems to have little impact on being hired for a college position. In general, college coaches are expected to have coaching experience as either assistants or head coaches before being hired for head coaching position.
3- In every area evaluating coaching experience, the WNBA has the lowest standards for hiring a head coach. The WNBA has the most coaching hires who have had no head coaching experience and with fewest years of experience.
4- Looking at the experience level of the WNBA, one has to wonder if ownership has been willing to pay the money required to hire experienced coaches. Is the lower level of experience in the WNBA hires reflection on the past income of the WNBA owners? If so, as the WNBA income goes up, will the WNBA ownership be willing to pay for more experienced and presumably higher quality coaches?
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