Mystics head coach Mike Thibault retires from coaching

Mike Thibault is retiring as the head coach of the Washington Mystics. Thibault will continue to serve as the Mystics’ general manager. His son, Eric Thibault, has been named the head coach of Washington. The younger Thibault served as the associate head coach.

Former Mystics player turned-assistant LaToya Sanders has been promoted to associate head coach to replace Eric.

Mike Thibault is the WNBA’s all-time winningest coach with 379 wins. He was named WNBA Coach of the Year three times and guided the Mystics to the 2019 WNBA championship.

“When we hired Mike ten years ago, we assigned him a large task: to make the Washington Mystics relevant in the WNBA, and he more than delivered,” Mystics owner Ted Leonsis said.

Thibault started his professional career as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA in 1980. He also was an assistant with the Chicago Bulls and Milwaukee Bucks.
Thibault entered the WNBA as the head coach of Connecticut Sun in 2003.

The Mystics hired Thibault in 2012. Under Thibault, the Mystics made the playoffs eight out of ten years, including two WNBA Finals appearances and the 2019 championship.

Eric Thibault has been with Mystics as an assistant for 10 seasons, including as the associate head coach for the last four. The Mystics finished last season 22-14 before being knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.