May 30, 2021
Seattle Storm coach Dan Hughes retires from WNBA
By Derek James
Two-time WNBA Coach of the Year announced his retirement Sunday
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Seattle Storm coach Dan Hughes has retired from the WNBA, the team announced on Sunday.
Hughes is a two-time WNBA Coach of the Year and leaves having coached the second-most games in league history with Charlotte, Cleveland, San Antonio and Seattle. In the team’s announcement, Hughes cited the rigors of WNBA head coaching as the motivating factor for him stepping away.
“After over 40 years of coaching basketball, I want to finish my career with the focus and determination with which I started,” Hughes said. “The Seattle Storm is in amazing shape, after two championships and a terrific playoff run in 2019, I would like to announce my retirement from the WNBA. I believe now is the right time because the team is performing well, but the rigors of being a head coach in the WNBA have taken their toll on me.
“I look forward to coaching with USA Basketball at the 2021 Olympics then leveraging my experience to give back to the game in other ways. Mary and I value the relationships we have formed in Seattle over the past four years and want to thank everyone for their ongoing support.”
While Hughes is leaving the WNBA, he will remain as an assistant with Team USA at the 2021 Olympics.
The Storm have promoted assistant Noelle Quinn to head coach. Gary Kloppenburg, Seattle’s interim head coach for Hughes in 2020, will remain on Quinn’s staff along with Ryan Webb and Perry Huang.
“I am excited to hand the reins to Noelle,” Hughes said. “She is well-positioned to do this job and I am proud to have mentored her during my time here. I look forward to her and the team’s ongoing success”.
Quinn spent 12 years as a WNBA player for five teams, including the Storm. She has spent the past three seasons as an assistant and associate head coach for Seattle. Quinn stepped in as head coach for Tuesday’s victory against Connecticut and is well-regarded for her offensive schemes.
Her first official game as permanent head coach will be this Tuesday against Indiana.
Dan did a great job. Really appreciate what he did for the league and the powerhouse Storm org.
REALLY excited the Noelle is getting a chance to lead the team now. I think she will kill it. Great article!