Pokey Chatman will be the next head coach of the Indiana Fever, a source told VigilantSports.com. She will be introduced at a press conference scheduled for 11:30 am Friday morning.
The move comes exactly three weeks after Chatman was not retained as Chicago Sky head coach and general manager.
Chatman, 47, becomes the sixth head coach in franchise history. She replaces Stephanie White, who finished out her second season before moving to Nashville to become the head coach at Vanderbilt University.
The other four head coaches in team history were Anne Donovan, Nell Fortner, Brian Winters, and Lin Dunn, who was at the helm when they won their only WNBA Championship in 2012.
[White showered with support at IU]
Over the last six years as coach, the Sky went 106-98 (.519). This past season, the Sky finished with an 18-16 record — one more win and spot ahead of the fifth-seeded Fever. The Sky won seven of their final ten regular season games. They reached the WNBA semifinals, losing in four games (3-1) to the eventual champions, Los Angeles Sparks.
The former point guard was born in Ama, Louisiana, and then spent 20 years at LSU. First as a player (1987-1991), then assistant coach (1992-2004), and finally as head coach for three and a half seasons.
She had a controversial exit, which you can read about here: “Chatman quit amid sexual misconduct claims”
UPDATE:
Ex-Fever center Tammy Sutton-Brown approves of the hire. “The Fever are in good hands,” she tweeted.
Devereaux Peters wrote: “Hey coach ?”