John Whisenant
John Whisenant (born June 18, 1945 in Gore, Oklahoma) is currently a professional basketball coach in the WNBA for the Sacramento Monarchs. He graduated in 1966 with a bachelor of science in physical education from New Mexico State University and earned an MA in history from Pittsburg State University.
Career
Whisenant's nickname is "Whiz". He started out as a basketall player at Connors State College and continued playing at New Mexico State University. He then began his coaching career at Coffeyville Community Junior College where his record was 48-10 (83%).
Afterwards Whisenant joined the coaching staff at the University of New Mexico where he would accumulate a record of 137-62 (69%) including two WAC championships. He would then serve as the vice president of basketball operations for the New Mexico Slam in the International Basketball League where his record was 51-35 (59%).
He would spend four seasons as the head coach at Arizona Western university where he won three league championships at 97-30 (76%). Later he would coach for his son at the AAU level, where he dominated with a record of 176-16 (92%). While serving as a consultant for the Sacramento Kings under the Maloof family, he would become the assistant manager for the Sacramento Monarchs. He would then become the new general manager the year to follow. Whisenant took over as head coach in the middle of 2003. In 2005, Whisenant would win the WNBA Coach of the Year Award while winning the WNBA championship title over the Connecticut Sun. It would be owners Joe and Gavin Maloof first title.
Given the wide variety of players he has coached in his career from men to women, amateurs, college players to professionals, fans have credited Whisenant for his ability to achieve a winning record of above .500 at all levels.
Whisenant will remain with the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA. Sources have quoted him expressing no interest in the head coaching position for the Sacramento Kings. But contrary to those comments, he did interview for the position, traveling to Las Vegas to do so over the Memorial Day weekend. Eric Musselman was named the Kings head coach on June 02, 2006.