Since WNBA players have been mentioned…Vaughn was one of those gritty, lunch pail, fundamental post players that can make good coaches.
I'm thinking that if its one or more WNBA players that Vic is waiting on, then most likely they would already be followed by Sydney Carter. Other than Colson (who I have been assuming is likely one of the candidates), are there other WNBA players that Sydney follows who might be possible retirement candidates?
I saw out on twitter that Vic started following Jeremy Rosenthal; not anyone else new who Vic is following that caught my eye as far as possible assistant coaches. Rosenthal started following Vic, Kristen Grant, Christy Smith, Sydney Carter, Blair Schaefer, Elena Lovato, Zach Zillner, John Bianco, and Chris Del Conte. So, unfortunately, no hints about assistant coaching hires that I saw on his twitter follow list. This Directory seems to have the best consolidated list of who is on the women's hoops staff: Staff Directory - University of Texas Athletics (texassports.com)
Saw on Vic's Instagram page that he started following LSU assistant coach, Bob Starkey. First account he's followed since he started Khadija Faye like 3-4 months ago. At this point, who knows if it means anything; but, Vic rarely adds new follows on IG.
Starkey just joined LSU in April after leaving Johnnie Harris. I’m actually very surprised Vic wasn’t following him already considering their deep ties to Gary Blair.
Yep, and April Phillips had joined Arizona's coaching staff just a couple of months before Vic hired her away to come to Texas. Now, that being said. I don't honestly believe Starkey is coming to Texas; I think I read that he and/or his wife are from Louisiana, so that was their reason for leaving Auburn. I just noticed the follow on IG and it seemed so unusual. But, wanted to share it nonetheless.
I thought about acknowledging the Phillips hire in my post but where they are in their respective careers is significantly different.
Looks like Vic's first presser last year was on September 23rd. He stated at the beginning of that conference that it was "picture day". Those pictures obviously included all of the coaching staff. So that's a month away. Can we at least assume that he'll have a staff in place by then?
IF…..our new coaches are coming from the WBNA, then some of them will be available soon. The quarterfinals will be done in the next day or so. That means 4 teams will be out…..and four teams still playing. I believe the semi-finals are over about Sept 8, so that drops it to two teams. Somebody needs to analyze these rosters that drop out after quarterfinals. Then semifinals. Then? Since we have a month to waste, anybody up for it. It’s not me.
My recollection of WNBA coaches/players names mentioned in this thread due to some social media follows by some of our staff members (Blair, Sydney, Elena) are: - Sadie Edwards (NY Liberty staff) - Sydney Colson (LA Vegas player) - Sue Bird (Seattle Storm player) Did I miss any? None of those (even if unrealistic to join our staff) would make sense to coach our post players.
Neither Starkey or his wife are from Louisiana, but I also don't see him jumping to Texas from LSU. Who knows?.. I suppose anything is possible. There are a couple of WNBA coaches and players who may be good fits to help coach guards, but I still can't figure out who the post coach might be. Bob Starkey
Ah, correct, not from Louisiana. But, spent 25 years living there. “I’m extremely humbled to have the opportunity to return to LSU and work with Coach Mulkey,” Starkey said. “Having previously been here for 25 years made Baton Rouge home for me and my wife (Sherie) and it’s beyond special to work with a Hall of Fame coach that has dramatically returned the magic to the PMAC. Simply put, it’s great to be home!” Bob Starkey Joins Coach Mulkey’s Staff as Associate Head Coach – LSU (lsusports.net)
I'm gonna throw out the name Carolyn Peck based on some weird/unorthodox logic. On twitter, I can't for sure tell who are recent follows. But, on the TexasWBB follows list, her name appears near recent hires like Jeremy Rosenthal and Sydney Carter, as well as new 'Horns, Ndjakalenga, Sonya Morris and Taylor Jones. That's also where I had seen Vickie Johnson (Dallas Wings HC) name. People followed by Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) / Twitter Would be interested to see if those names appear near the top of TexasWBB twitter follows list for anyone else.
I guess it’s inevitable that I finally get a Twitter account. I’m on Instagram cause my girls use it. I almost signed up for Tik Toc yesterday but backed out. I am reluctant cause I waste too much of my time as it is on my IPad. But there “could” be some valuable information on Twitter. Like Texas WBB. Alternatively, just keep depending on ya’ll to extract any nuggets. If I do, I may have to get remedial training from my grandkids.
...AND he has a very long and storied history at that university, so he's practically from there IMO.
2023 commit, Abbie Boutilier started following Dallas Wings head coach, Vickie Johnson on Instagram. Guess we'll know soon if that has any relevance to our coaching staff.
Thanks. And, the Liberty still playing. Gives me hope that we'll hear about our new hires maybe even sooner than I think. Makes me wonder if she was interviewed by Texas during the time I noticed her being followed on IG by one of our staff members.
Looks like the Wings may be out. Down 9 late in third. If Johnson is one, perhaps we’ll know in a few days.
What am I missing about Vicki Johnson? She’s in her 2nd year coaching the Wings and having success and the franchise headed in the right direction. Seems to be a good fit from everything I’ve seen out of the Wings organization. Is there talk of her being let go?
I never really paid attention to WNBA coaching salaries. But, when Collen left the Atlanta Dream head coaching job for Baylor, it pretty much told me they aren't paid very much in the WNBA. And, Baylor didn't even pay her half of the $2 million they were paying Mulkey. When Becky Hammon was hired to coach the Las Vegas Aces, it was reported that she became the highest paid coach in the WNBA at nearly $1 million. In college, coaches like Vic, Tara, Waltz, Geno, Dawn, etc. are making 2-3 teams that amount. Even when Sherri Coale was coaching at OU, she had been over $1 million, I believe. As for what women's basketball college assistant coaches make, I don't recall off the top of my head. But, those programs who are paying their head coaches the most are probably the ones who pay their assistants the highest salaries.
I went back to look at the salaries of Vic's first coaching staff at Texas: New Texas associate head coach Johnnie Harris will receive a base salary of $300,000 in Austin. Texas is set to pay associate head coach Dionnah Jackson-Durrett $210,000 while assistant coach Elena Lovato makes $170,000.
The potential draw from WBNA to college assistant is potential. Possible head job in future, stability in some college programs, and instability in WBNA coaching and team rankings. Other reasons as well.
I'd hazard a guess that being a relatively new head coach, VJ isn't making more than $300K - especially when you consider the amount of shock that came when Hammon's $1M was announced. With her history as an assistant, Vic could probably get her $350K easy with an associate head coach title. That's working under the assumption she would leave the WNBA. Another possibility on the Dallas Wings staff? Le’Coe Willingham. She has college experience, assistant and head coach (though at much smaller schools), and she's known as a good post coach and defensive specialist.
As a second-year ??? head coach, I'd be surprised if V. Johnson is making more than $100k if that. Just a guess on my part, no facts or stats to back that up.
