Brian Agler named head coach of the Dallas Wings
After resigning as head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks in early November, Brian Agler interviewed for same position with the Dallas Wings this month. The North Texas-based franchise announced today that Agler would be the new coach of the Wings.
From the Wings’ release.
The Dallas Wings have hired two-time WNBA Champion Brian Agler to serve as the team’s head coach, the organization announced today. Agler joins the Wings with more victories than any other coach in U.S. women’s professional basketball history.
“Brian’s record as a coach and reputation as one of the premier developers of basketball talent make him the ideal person to lead our young and talented team moving forward,” said Dallas Wings President & CEO Greg Bibb. “Brian brings a proven track record and championship pedigree to our organization that will allow us to continue to improve on and off the court as we prepare for our fourth season in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. On behalf of the Dallas Wings organization, I am thrilled to welcome Brian as the Wings’ head coach and I look forward to working with him as we pursue a WNBA Championship.”
“I am excited and looking forward to working closely with Coach Agler,” said All-WNBA guard Skylar Diggins-Smith. “He brings a wealth of knowledge, understanding and championship leadership to Dallas. I’m confident the Wings program will continue to grow and flourish under Coach Agler.”
Agler, 60, brings more than 30 years of coaching experience to Dallas, including 12 years as a WNBA head coach. He most recently served four years as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks where he compiled an 85-51 overall record, four playoff appearances and the 2016 WNBA Championship. Agler’s stint in LA also included back-to-back 28-6 seasons in 2016 and 2017 and a second appearance in the WNBA Finals following the 2017 campaign. While with the Sparks, Agler coached 2016 MVP Nneka Ogwumike, 2016 Finals MVP Candace Parker and two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year Alana Beard.
“I appreciate the opportunity that Greg and the entire Dallas Wings organization has provided me,” said Agler. “It is very difficult to achieve high level success in the WNBA. I want to help the team build a strong
foundation of championship characteristics and traits; if this can be established then positioning for a championship can begin. I’m excited for this challenge and look forward to working with the team and the entire Wings organization.”Prior to his stint with the Sparks, Agler spent seven seasons as head coach and general manager of the Seattle Storm, guiding that team to the playoffs in each of his first six campaign while compiling a regular season record of 136-102. In 2010, Agler was recognized as the WNBA Coach of the Year as the Storm captured the 2010 WNBA Championship.
Agler first joined the WNBA as head coach and general manager of the expansion Minnesota Lynx from 1999-2002. Following his time in Minnesota, he was an assistant with the Phoenix Mercury in 2004 before spending the 2005-07 seasons as an assistant with the San Antonio Stars.
In 1996, Agler began his career in professional basketball serving as head coach of the American Basketball League’s Columbus Quest from 1996-1999. In the team’s short stint, Agler played a prominent role, leading the team to back-to-back championships in 1997 and 1998, and was named ABL Coach of the year for the 1996-97 campaign. In three seasons, Agler complied a 72-18 regular season record and 10-4 mark in the postseason.
