Thibault Wins 2006 WNBA Coach of the Year
August 20, 2006 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) News Release
NEW YORK, August 20, 2006 - Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault won the 2006 WNBA Coach of the Year award presented by AOL.com, the WNBA announced today. Thibault received 37 out of a possible 56 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
Thibault coached the Sun to the WNBA's best overall record (26-8) as well as to the league's best road mark (12-5). Down the stretch, Thibault's squad logged an Eastern Conference and franchise record 12-game winning streak that also equaled the third best mark in league history.
The top team in the East for the third straight season, the Sun set franchise records for scoring average (78.9 per game), field-goals made and attempted (982 - 2217), free throw percentage (80.7), defensive rebounds (926), total rebounds (1,268), assists (630) and blocked shots (153).
In 2006, he also coached the Eastern Conference All-Star Team to its first victory in league history. With Thibault on the bench and Connecticut Sun guard Katie Douglas earning All-Star Game MVP honors, the East defeated the West 98-82.
Since joining the franchise in 2003, Thibault has guided the Sun to four consecutive playoff berths and back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships.
Below are the voting results for 2006 WNBA Coach of the Year Award presented by AOL.com as well as a list of past recipients.
2006 COACH OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY AOL.COM RESULTS
37 Mike Thibault Connecticut Sun
17 Joe Bryant LA Sparks
1 Brian Winters Indiana Fever
1 Van Chancellor Houston Comets
COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS
2006 Mike Thibault Connecticut Sun 2005 John Whisenant Sacramento Monarchs
2004 Suzie McConnell Serio Minnesota Lynx
2003 Bill Laimbeer Detroit Shock
2002 Marianne Stanley Washington Mystics
2001 Dan Hughes Cleveland Rockers
2000 Michael Cooper Los Angeles Sparks
1999 Van Chancellor Houston Comets
1998 Van Chancellor Houston Comets
1997 Van Chancellor Houston Comets
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 20, 2006
- Thibault Wins 2006 WNBA Coach of the Year - WNBA
- Minnesota's Seimone Augustus Named 2006 WNBA Rookie of the Year - Minnesota Lynx
- WNBA Names 2006 All-Rookie Team - WNBA
- Monique Currie Named to WNBA All-Rookie Team - Charlotte Sting
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
