John Whisenant
Encyclopedia
John Whisenant is currently head coach for the New York Liberty
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA). He graduated in 1966 with a B.S.
degree in physical education
from New Mexico State University
and earned an M.A.
in history
from Pittsburg State University
.
.
Whisenant began his coaching career at Coffeyville Community College
where his record was 48-10 (83%). Afterwards he joined the coaching staff at the University of New Mexico
where he would accumulate a record of 137-62 (69%) including two WAC
championships. He later served as the vice president of basketball operations for the New Mexico Slam in the International Basketball League
where his record was 51-35 (59%).
He spent four seasons as the head coach at Arizona Western University where he won three league championships at 97-30 (76%). Later he coached his son's team at the AAU
level, where he dominated with a record of 176-16 (92%). While serving as a consultant for the Sacramento Kings
under the Maloof family
, he became the assistant manager for the Sacramento Monarchs. Whisenant became the general manager the following year, then took over as head coach in the middle of 2003. In 2005, he won the WNBA Coach of the Year Award
and his Monarchs won the WNBA championship
title over the Connecticut Sun
- the first title for owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.
In light of the wide variety of players he has coached in his career - men and women, amateurs, college players and professionals - many admire Whisenant for his ability to achieve a winning record at all levels.
Sources have quoted Whisenant expressing no interest in the head coaching position for the National Basketball Association
's Sacramento Kings
. He did interview for the position, however, Eric Musselman
was named the Kings' head coach on June 2, 2006. Whisenant later coached the Monarchs to its second straight Western Conference Championship title, by beating the Los Angeles Sparks
. However, the team lost in the WNBA Finals
to the Detroit Shock
.
After the season ended, on October 25, Whisenant announced that he was resigning from his coaching position, although he would remain as the Monarchs' general manager.
Along with his coaching position, Whisenant is a partner in a highly successful commercial real estate firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). He graduated in 1966 with a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
from New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
and earned an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
from Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University
Pittsburg State University, also called Pitt State or PSU, is a public university with approximately 7,100 students located in Pittsburg, Kansas, United States. A large percentage of the student population consists of residents within the Pittsburg region; the gender proportion is relatively equal...
.
Career
Whisenant's nickname is "Whiz". He started out as a basketball player at Connors State College and continued playing at New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
.
Whisenant began his coaching career at Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville Community College is a community college located in Coffeyville, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1923....
where his record was 48-10 (83%). Afterwards he joined the coaching staff at the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
where he would accumulate a record of 137-62 (69%) including two WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
championships. He later served as the vice president of basketball operations for the New Mexico Slam in the International Basketball League
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League was a short lived professional basketball league in the United States. The IBL was headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. The league started in 1999 and ended in 2001.-History:...
where his record was 51-35 (59%).
He spent four seasons as the head coach at Arizona Western University where he won three league championships at 97-30 (76%). Later he coached his son's team at the AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
level, where he dominated with a record of 176-16 (92%). While serving as a consultant for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
under the Maloof family
Maloof family
The Maloof family owns numerous business properties in the Western United States. The origin of the family name is Maalouf and is of Levantine descent; the family is Lebanese via their paternal grandfather. The Maloofs are the owners of the Sacramento Kings of the NBA . The family consists of...
, he became the assistant manager for the Sacramento Monarchs. Whisenant became the general manager the following year, then took over as head coach in the middle of 2003. In 2005, he won the WNBA Coach of the Year Award
WNBA Coach of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the league's inaugural season. The winner is selected at the end of regular season by a panel of sportswriters from the United States, each of whom casts a vote...
and his Monarchs won the WNBA championship
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
title over the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
- the first title for owners Joe and Gavin Maloof.
In light of the wide variety of players he has coached in his career - men and women, amateurs, college players and professionals - many admire Whisenant for his ability to achieve a winning record at all levels.
Sources have quoted Whisenant expressing no interest in the head coaching position for the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
's Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. He did interview for the position, however, Eric Musselman
Eric Musselman
Eric P. Musselman is an American basketball coach and the former head coach of the NBA's Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors...
was named the Kings' head coach on June 2, 2006. Whisenant later coached the Monarchs to its second straight Western Conference Championship title, by beating the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
. However, the team lost in the WNBA Finals
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
to the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
.
After the season ended, on October 25, Whisenant announced that he was resigning from his coaching position, although he would remain as the Monarchs' general manager.
Along with his coaching position, Whisenant is a partner in a highly successful commercial real estate firm in Albuquerque, New Mexico.