First, Angela Taylor Gone . . . Now, Julie Plank Gone . . . Trudi Lacey Promoted to GM/Head Coach.
This has all the makings of a great soap opera (if only it were happening on television). Quite frankly, the BasketCases are speechless. It's hard to compose a blog post when you're busy shaking your head in utter disbelief. Perhaps later we'll settle down enough to write something.
For now, here's the "official" word from the Mystics' own website:
Photo Credit: DC BasketCases (August 22, 2010)
This has all the makings of a great soap opera (if only it were happening on television). Quite frankly, the BasketCases are speechless. It's hard to compose a blog post when you're busy shaking your head in utter disbelief. Perhaps later we'll settle down enough to write something.
For now, here's the "official" word from the Mystics' own website:
Monumental Sports & Entertainment vice chairman and Mystics presidentand managing partner, Sheila C. Johnson announced today that Trudi Lacey has been named the team’s general manager and head coach. Lacey joined the team in2009 as an assistant coach. In 2010 she was promoted to director of basketball operations. She replaces Angela Taylor whose contract recently expired and Julie Plank who will not return to the team.
“We appreciate the patience of our fans as we moved through this process. We were in discussion with Julie about a joint gm/coach role as well as our philosophy moving forward. Julie only wanted to coach the team and both sides agreed to part ways. I am excited to have Trudi Lacey as our general manager and head coach. She is a leader that brings a great deal of experience to her new position, having previously served as the general manager and head coach of the Charlotte Sting. She is very familiar with our team as she has been part of our organization for the last two years. We had a fantastic season and our fan support was tremendous. All of us are excited to begin 2011. Our franchise is 100% committed to taking the next step, and we are excited to have our fans take it with us,” stated Johnson.
Lacey brings a wealth of experience to her new position. She was the head coach and general manager of the Charlotte Sting from 2003-2006 and has had coaching stints at the University of Maryland, the University of South Florida, NAIA Francis Marion College, Manhattan College and James Madison University. She recently was the head coach at Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.
"I would like to thank Ted Leonsis, Sheila Johnson and the entire Mystics organization for the opportunity to coach an extraordinary group of young ladies in front of the best fans in the WNBA,” said Lacey. “We will continue to work hard to continue to build on the success of the past two seasons."
She played for the legendary Kay Yow at North Carolina State University where she was an All-America basketball player. Her jersey was retired by the school in 2000, and she was named to the ACC All-Legend Team. She was a key contributor with USA Basketball working with the gold medal men’s and women’s basketball teams at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
posted by BasketCases @ 3:06 PM
18 comments
18 Comments:
That really sucks!! Who wants their renewal money back???
Stupid Stupid Stupid
What about Marrianne Stanley!??
My condolences to STH's who've spent their hard earned money. I've "only" got heartache. And lots of bile.
I really hope that come this time next season, we'll all look back at this and laugh. Right now, the last two years seem like a distant memory.
I am so angry. Already emailed Ted and Greg. SO ANGRY. Angela and Julie?!? I want to cry.
Wow. I'm so disappointed in the Mystics ownership and front office.
20plus win season SHOULD leave one feeling good in the off season. I hope I'm wrong, but my gut tells me this is franchise is going nowhere. This STH may not be sticking around for much longer.
regretfully,
SOOZN
Another disappointment. Where is the line for STH's to get their money back?
Susan G,
We welcome your comments. But, as we've noted on prior occasions with regard to comments posted here by others, this blog is not a message board. So this isn't the appropriate place for reposting a message board comment.
--BC
I'm sick. They may have just lost me.
It's hard to muster up much excitement and enthusiasm for this organization. Everything they've done since the season ended has been piss-poor.
Coach Plank was so positive; was a great game coach; and got the most out of a nine player squad. Hell we won the eastern championship with nine players. I can't believe that this was her choice in leaving. Sheila Johnson, Greg Bibb, and the rest of the management is stupid and incompetent in taking into consideration fans and coaching talent. What a losing organization. Good ridance to supporting the WNBA mystics.
I, too, am speechless-don't have any idea what to think. I love the Mystics-players. As for the organization..... it's like they purposely are running from success in their "business." I like what I've seen from Coach Lacey but she will inherit some really hard feelings from fans.
Thanks so much to Coach Plank, and Ms. Taylor. This founding fan really appreciated both your hard work and your wonderful personalities. Wish you both all the best.
SR
If it ain't broke, why fix it?
Then again, 2011 hasn't even started, so I'll give the benefit of the doubt to Lacey for now.
I second the above comment. I too appreciated the hard work from Coach Plank and Angela Taylor. They also had very positive personalities and exceptional work ethics. Who could fault or cause waves with two professionals that dedicated their existence to the mystics organization. I hope that the administration was able to express their gratitude or at least eventually realize what fools they were.
This is just so crazy. I'm sorry to say this, but, the Mystics are a losing organization. To win so many games the last 2 years, to finally have success, and then dump the 2 people who have led your organization, just crazy. Sheila Johnson--sorry you don't know how to run a successful basketball team--clearly.
I will support the players. I will continue to go to games. Women should have a league to live out their dreams.
I'm shocked. And to blame this all on cost cutting? Insane. I'm certain both Angela Taylor and Julie Planck will end up with competing teams and will kick our butts on the Verizon Center court six months from now.
We're already planning on showing up for a game wherever Julie is coaching next season and wearing our Mystics shirts.
I honestly would have preferred for the Mystics to have traded their franchise player over dumping their successful GM and head coach.
And if this team needed to be counting pennies so much, couldn't some of our behind-the-bench "coaches who aren't really coaches" have been let go?
Getting rid of Julie Plank (and Angela Taylor) is good for "business??" Good business is keeping your fans, winning games and hope for the future. Sheila Johnson needs a major refresher course. Her real business is Salamander Hospitality and her hotels.
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