Re: Laimbeer to NBA?

"CapriSmall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Rumor has it that Bill Lambeer is sniffing around the NBA and
> his name is getting tossed out as a potential coach at some point.
> His NBA bonafides make him an option certainly. While this would
> be a disaster for the Shock, it might be good for women's basketball.
> Right now the feeling seems to be that it's a one-way street and that
> once someone coaches women they can never
> coach men. If Lambeer crossed back over and had the success with men
> that he had with women, it would bring new credibility to the WNBA, IMHO.

Ron Rothstein is currently on the Indiana Pacers coaching staff.  Michael
Cooper was an assistant coach for the Lakers in the mid-90's before joining
the Sparks coaching staff and has had his name mentioned for jobs in the NBA
and at New Mexico State in the last year. Richie Adubato was an NBA coach
for 19 years before coaching the N.Y. Liberty. There were others.  There is
definitely a surplus of coaches with NBA level experience or coaches
qualified and capable of coaching in the NBA. Some get jobs in the WNBA.
I don't see any problem for a male coach to go to the WNBA from the NBA.

For women coaches, I think it is an entirely different matter.  No WNBA team
coached  by a woman has yet to win a WNBA Championship. Cheryl Miller came
within an overtime of winning one back in 1998.  That was the closest. More
and more WNBA head coaching jobs are being taken by NBA guys.  Dee Brown is
the latest.  The Indiana Fever head coaching job will probably go to another
NBA guy.  It's getting tougher for a woman to get a coaching job in the WNBA
now.  Only four head coaches in the WNBA are women, at last count.