Minnesota Lynx Name Julie Plank Assistant Coach
Published on January 4, 2008 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Minnesota Lynx News Release
Minneapolis/St. Paul - The Minnesota Lynx announced today the hiring of Julie Plank as an assistant coach. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Plank, who has amassed a 510-243 record in her 23-year career as an assistant coach, was most recently an assistant coach and director of scouting for the Indiana Fever from the team's inception in 2000 through the 2007 season.
"I am very excited to be joining the Minnesota Lynx coaching staff at such a crucial time as we continue the process of developing a championship contender," said Plank. "I am anxious to continue watching the nation's top college players for the next round of talent that will join the Lynx in the 2008 WNBA Draft. I am extremely thankful to the entire Minnesota Lynx organization for giving me this opportunity, and I am looking forward to the day that we can bring home a WNBA Championship to the Twin Cities."
"Hiring someone of Julie's stature for our coaching staff is a tremendous addition to the Minnesota Lynx Organization," said Lynx Chief Operating Officer Roger Griffith. "With 23 years of experience assisting with the development of the greatest players in the game at the collegiate, international and professional levels, Julie will be a great influence on our team. She is a big part of the coaching staff that we are assembling in Minnesota for our 10th Anniversary season in 2008."
With the Lynx, Plank will be responsible for the team's scouting efforts, talent evaluation, and player development with a focus on the guards.
"Julie was in a similar situation in Indiana to what we are going through here in Minnesota," said Lynx Head Coach Don Zierden. "When she first started in Indiana, they won nine games in 2000. She knows what it is like to try to rebuild with young players. She has been there through the entire process, starting with the nine wins in 2000 to the 21 wins the Fever have recorded in each of the last three seasons. We are trying to build a championship contending team here in Minnesota, and Julie has the experience of doing that in Indiana. We also wanted to hire someone who is going to be able to work with our guards. Julie, along with her 23 years of experience, brings a lot of knowledge that will help our young guards develop."
Prior to joining the Fever, Plank was an assistant coach with the U.S. Women's National Team from 1999 through the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, where she added two gold medals to her impressive coaching resume after helping to lead the United States to gold-medal victories in the 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup and the 2000 Olympics and a 38-2 overall record in 1999-2000.
Plank's 23-year coaching resume includes 10 years (1986-95) on the sidelines at Stanford University as an assistant to 1996 gold medal-winning Olympic head coach Tara VanDerveer. Reunited with her head coach in college, she helped direct the Cardinal to eight consecutive NCAA Tournaments (1988-95), four Final Four appearances (1990-92, 1995) and two NCAA championships (1990, 1992). While helping Stanford to a 251-62 (.802) overall record, Plank's duties included overseeing the Cardinal's scheduling, scouting and conditioning efforts, in addition to working closely with the development of the team's guards.
From 1997-99, Plank, an 18-year coaching veteran, served as an assistant at Vanderbilt University where she directed the school's recruiting and scouting efforts and acted as the lead assistant during games. At Vanderbilt, she was ranked as the fifth-best NCAA Division I assistant coach in the nation by Women's Basketball Journal in 1998.
Plank began her assistant coaching career at Capital University (Ohio) in 1984, where she spent two years as an assistant, helping Capital to a 38-9 record (.809). Overall, she has helped three different NCAA women's basketball programs to a 343-104 record (.767).
A native of Columbus, Ohio, Plank played four years at Ohio State University where she was a three-year starter at point guard. She helped lead the Buckeyes to a 23-5 record and the school's first Big Ten Conference women's basketball title, as a senior in 1983.
Plank attended Bishop Hartley High School and led her team to two Ohio state high school championships. In February 2001, the school retired her No. 13 jersey in honor of her accomplishments.
The Minnesota Lynx will celebrate their 10th season in 2008. Season and group tickets are on sale now for this historic season. Be a part of the pageantry by calling 612-673-8400, e-mailing tickets@lynxbasketball.com or visiting the Lynx website at www.lynxbasketball.com.
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from January 4, 2008
- Kloppenburg Named as Fever Assistant Coach - Indiana Fever
- Minnesota Lynx Name Julie Plank Assistant Coach - Minnesota Lynx
- Learn From A Legend - New York Liberty
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