Jessie Kenlaw Joins Mystics Staff
January 14, 2008 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Washington Mystics News Release
Washington, D.C. - Veteran WNBA Coach Jessie Kenlaw has joined the Washington Mystics as the team's lead assistant and Director of Scouting, General Manager Linda Hargrove announced today. Kenlaw will join head coach Tree Rollins and assistant coach Crystal Robinson on the Mystics bench for the 2008 season. Kenlaw, who has coached in the WNBA for the last eight years, was the lead assistant for the Seattle Storm team that captured the 2004 WNBA Championship. She most recently was the assistant coach with the Houston Comets. Per company policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"Jessie knows what it takes to win a WNBA Championship," said Rollins. "She brings a great deal of knowledge to our staff and I look forward to working with her."
Kenlaw joined the Seattle Storm in 2003 and spent four seasons with the team where she helped coach perennial All-Stars, Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson. Under her tutelage, Jackson received her first Most Valuable Player Award in 2003. Prior to coaching in Seattle, Kenlaw spent three years with the expansion Portland Fire and a season with the Colorado Xplosion of the American Basketball League (ABL).
"I am extremely excited about this opportunity to work with Tree Rollins and the Mystics organization," said Kenlaw. "I recruited both Delisha Milton-Jones and Alana Beard when I coached at the collegiate level and I have always been impressed with their passion and competitive drive to win."
Kenlaw spent eight years as the Head Coach at the University of Houston where she led the team to two post-season appearances. She was named the Black Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 1991. She has coached at Louisiana Tech University with Leon Barmore and at Lamar University.
Kenlaw earned her degree in health and physical education at Savannah State College.
The Washington Mystics will tip off the 2008 season on Saturday, May 17th, on the road against the Indiana Fever. Washington will host the club's home opener on Sunday, May 25th, against the four-time WNBA Champion, Houston Comets at 4:00 p.m. Season tickets for the 2008 season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Mystics Sales Office at 1-877-DC-HOOP1 or by visiting the Mystics web site at www.washingtonmystics.com.
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from January 14, 2008
- Jessie Kenlaw Joins Mystics Staff - Washington Mystics
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