New Orleans Pelicans announce Teresa Weatherspoon as 8th female NBA coach
Teresa Weatherspoon was promoted by New Orleans Pelican head coach Stan Van Gundy
Teresa Weatherspoon is making big moves.
On Monday, the former WNBA star was hired as the eighth full-time female assistant coach in the NBA. In the past, she served as the two-way player development coach for the New Orleans Pelicans and now she will work with the team full time as an assistant coach, per People.
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“I am excited about our coaching staff,” said New Orleans Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy in a statement on Monday. “We have a great mix of background, experience, perspective, and expertise.”
Weatherspoon began coaching the Lady Techsters at Louisiana Tech in 2009. She led the team to a 99-71 record over six seasons. The team would go on to win the WAC tournament in 2010 under her.
Weatherspoon began playing with the New York Liberty team in 1997. She was with the team for seven out of the eight years she participated in the NBA. Before making it pro, she played at Louisiana Tech from 1984-1988 and helped the team win their second NCAA Championship.
Weatherspoon retired in 2004. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 after becoming a five-time All-Star.
“Nobody can remove you or take your place when God has solidified and glorified your position and destination. So grateful to be on this journey with @pelicansnba. Let’s gooooooooooo #AlwaysSmiling #Favor #Grace #AllForYou #WontBowDown #GoPels,” Weatherspoon posted on Instagram. The caption included a photo of the star smiling from ear to ear.
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Weatherspoon is now the eighth woman to hold the spot in the NBA alongside Cleveland Cavalier’s Lindsay Gottlieb, Jenny Boucek of the Dallas Mavericks, Brittni Donaldson of the Toronto Raptors, San Antonio Spurs’ Becky Hammon, Memphis Grizzlies’ Sonia Raman, Los Angeles Clippers’ Natalie Nakase and Sacramento Kings’ Lindsey Harding.
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