College, WNBA, NBA Coaches- Experience Needed To Get Hired

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?