The Atlanta Dream have hired Karl Smesko as head coach, the team announced Wednesday.
Smesko replaces Tanisha Wright, who was fired earlier this month after three seasons in charge.
“Karl is a proven leader with a history of developing his players and creating a winning culture,” said general manager Dan Padover in a statement. “His fast-paced, innovative style of play will be attractive to our players and fans alike. We are excited to have Karl bring his incredible basketball IQ to the Dream.”
Smesko, 54, had been with Florida Gulf Coast University since 2002, when he was part of the program’s creation. He compiled a 611-110 record with the Eagles and a 672–137 overall coaching record — an .843 winning percentage that is third-highest among active NCAA Division I women’s coaches.
His teams won 14 Atlanta Sun conference regular-season titles, 11 conference tournament championships and made 10 trips to the NCAA tournament. Twenty-two of Smesko’s players have moved into coaching following their collegiate careers and three of his former assistants are currently college head coaches.
Florida Gulf Coast also finished with 14 consecutive 25-win seasons under Smesko, which has only been matched by Geno Auriemma and UConn.
The Dream are coming off a second consecutive season where they were bounced in the first round of the WNBA playoffs without winning a game. The franchise has not won a playoff series since 2016 and has not finished with a winning regular-season record since 2018 when they finished first in the Eastern Conference before falling in the conference finals.
