Dream hire FGCU's Karl Smesko as head coach
The Atlanta Dream have hired Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko as the franchise's next bench boss, the team announced Wednesday.
Smesko holds the third-highest winning percentage (.843) among active coaches in NCAA Division I women's basketball behind UConn's Geno Auriemma and LSU's Kim Mulkey.
The Eagles have been one of the best 3-point shooting teams under Smesko, knocking down 300 or more in 15 straight seasons. They set a NCAA record with 431 in 2018.
"I am humbled and honored to be the head coach of the Atlanta Dream," Smesko said in a statement. "I am grateful for a remarkable 23 years at FGCU and will be forever indebted to the amazing women who have played for me, the incredible professionals who have coached with me, and the passionate fan base who supported us along the way. I'm thankful to the leadership of the Atlanta Dream for their faith in me to lead this organization into the future and can't wait to get started."
The Dream went 15-25 last season, qualifying for the playoffs on the final day of the WNBA regular season. They lost in the first round for the second straight campaign and subsequently parted ways with coach Tanisha Wright.