WNBA Raids College Coaching Ranks As Atlanta Dream Hire Karl Smesko

One of the brightest minds in college basketball is coming to the pros.

The Atlanta Dream have hired Karl Smesko as their next head coach, the team announced Wednesday. Smesko, who spent 23 years leading Florida Gulf Coast women’s basketball program, had the third-highest winning percentage among active college head coaches, only behind UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey.

FGCU deployed an efficient, high-octane offense under Smesko, and was often among the top D-1 schools in three-point attempts. The Eagles made all ten of their NCAA Tournament appearances under Smesko, and have not lost three or more conference games since the 2010–2011 season.

The financial details for Smesko’s contract with the Dream are unclear. His FGCU salary was $450,000 last season. 

According to The Athletic, the low end of WNBA coaching salaries last season was $350,000, which is already more than double what it was five years ago. With WNBA teams expected to receive a revenue increase when the league’s $2.2 billion media-rights deal hits in 2026, the head coaching market could drastically rise as soon as this offseason.

The WNBA’s highest-paid coach last season was the Phoenix Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts, who was paid $1.2 million a year. The only other coach who received a nine-figure salary was the Las Vegas Aces’ Becky Hammon, who earned $1 million a year.

Smesko is the fourth head coach to be hired during this offseason cycle. The Golden State Valkyries, the expansion franchise debuting next season, signed former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase in October. 

The Indiana Fever replaced Christie Sides with Stephanie White earlier this month, just days after White parted ways with the Connecticut Sun. The Chicago Sky, who let go of Teresa Weatherspoon after one season, hired Tyler Marsh, also a former Aces assistant.

In late October, seven of the 12 teams—not including the Valkyries—had coaching vacancies. There are four head coaching positions still open: the Sun, Washington Mystics, Dallas Wings, and Los Angeles Sparks.