 • As of January 2008
Connecticut Sun head coach Mike Thibault earned his first USA Basketball women's coaching assignment when on Feb. 16, 2006, he was announced as an assistant coach for the 2006 USA Women's World Championship Team. He was then tabbed to remain a part of the USA National Team coaching staff through the 2008 Olympic Games.
2007 was a busy year for the USA National Team and Thibault, along with USA head coach Anne Donovan, was there every step of the way.
The team started by earning a 4-0 slate in its 2007 Tour of Italy against the Italian National Team and a trio of pro squads in April. Another version of the team regrouped for training at the beginning of Sept. and posted a 2-0 exhibition record against Australia, while taking advantage of valuable training time.
Following the September training camp, Thibault assisted the USA squad to the gold medal, a 5-0 mark and, more important, a berth to the 2008 Olympic Games at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Valdivia, Chile.
The USA National Team took a short break as the USA Select Team, with Thibault aiding on the sidelines, took on international powerhouse professional teams at the 2007 FIBA World League Tournament in Russia. Blending members of the National Team with other players, the squad posted a 3-2 mark and finished with the silver medal.
The USA National Team capped its ‘07 training with a coast-to-coast college tour. Facing eight teams in 16 days, the USA went 8-0 to close the year with an unblemished 19-0 record.
At the 2006 World Championship Thibault aided Donovan and the USA's young squad to an 8-1 slate, the second best record at the Worlds. After a heartbreaking loss to Russia in the semifinals, Thibault helped the team rebound for a dominating bronze medal finish against host Brazil.
Prior to the World Championship Thibault was on hand as the USA bested eventual gold medalist Australia 56-49 in an exhibition contest at Duke.
In the spring of 2006 Thibault got his first experience as a USA Basketball women's coach as he aided USA head coach Anne Donovan and the 2006 USA Senior National Team to a 9-1 slate and the Australia-hosted Opals World Challenge title during a series of three training camps.
Owning international coaching experience on the men's side, prior to being tabbed a USA Women's World Championship Team assistant coach, Thibault previously guided a pair of USA Basketball men's squads to the medal stand. In 1993 he directed a USA team consisting of CBA stars to a 6-1 overall record and the gold medal over top squads from the Americas at the World Championship Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico. He returned two years later, again with a CBA-laden squad, and piloted the 1995 USA Pan American Games Team to the silver medal and a 4-3 record in Argentina. His three losses in that tournament came by a total of nine points and once again his team was pitted against some of the top talent from the Americas.
Thibault took over the Connecticut Sun program in 2003 and guided the team to the WNBA Eastern Conference playoffs in his first season coaching women's basketball. In doing so, he became the first coach in franchise
history to advance the Sun in the WNBA playoffs. He then upped the ante in the next two seasons. Predicted to finish last in the conference in 2004, Thibault led his team to an 18-16 slate, then took the Sun on a run through the playoffs and into the WNBA Finals. In 2005 he piloted Connecticut to a league-best 26-8 record and a second consecutive appearance in the WNBA Finals.
During his tenure, the Sun has never dropped more than three games in a row and in earning a franchise-record eight straight victories during the 2005 season, he eclipsed the franchise record of six consecutive wins set by his 2004 squad. Continuing to up the ante, Thibault's 2006 Sun set the bar at 12 consecutive victories.
Thibault advanced the Sun to the WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, and he came close to a repeat in 2006 after directing the Sun to the Eastern Conference Finals, despite being faced with an injury-hampered team.
For the second year in a row Thibault piloted Connecticut to a league-best 26-8 mark, ensuring home court advantage through the playoffs and Thibault for his efforts was named the 2006 WNBA Coach of the Year.
In all, Thibault owns an 88-48 (.647 winning percentage) record with the Connecticut Sun.
A 17-year men's professional coach, including two years (1980-81 and 1981-92) as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers and four years (1998-99 through 2001-02) as an assistant with the NBA Milwaukee Bucks, Thibault got his start with the World Basketball League's Calgary 88's in 1987-88. He also spent eight years (1989-90 through 1996-97) building a 236-205 record (.535 winning percentage) with the CBA's Omaha Racers, where his squads not only competed in the CBA playoffs each year, he led his teams to the 1993 CBA championship and returned the following year to the CBA Finals.
Hired as an assistant to George Karl and the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998-99, over the span of four seasons the Thibault-assisted Bucks compiled a 163-133 (.551 winning percentage), clinched the 2001 Central Division title and advanced to the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals. Additionally, he served as a scout under Karl during the 1997-98 season with the SuperSonics.
Thibault's professional basketball coaching career began in 1978-79. While an assistant coach at St. Martin's College (Wash.), the Los Angeles Lakers named him a part-time scout. Two seasons later, he was promoted to assistant coach and director of scouting. During his four years with the Lakers, Los Angeles won two NBA titles (1980, 1982).
After his stint with the Lakers Thibault worked as an assistant coach and director of scouting for the Chicago Bulls for four seasons (1982-83 through 1985-86), during a period when the franchise drafted Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley, while also acquiring John Paxson.
In 1988, as head coach of the World Basketball League Calgary 88's, he directed his squad to an overall record of 32-22, the regular season title, and for his efforts he was named the WBL Coach of the Year.
Mike Thibault Coaching Synopsis
|
USA Basketball Coaching History |
| Year / Event |
Position |
W-L<
/TD>
| PCT |
Medal/Finish |
| 2007 USA FIBA Americas Championship Team |
Assistant Coach |
5-0 |
1.000 |
Gold Medal |
| 2007-08 USA National Team |
Assistant Coach |
14-0 |
1.000 |
n/a |
| 2007 USA Select Team - FIBA World League |
Assistant Coach |
3-2 |
.600 |
Silver Medal |
| 2006 USA World Championship Team |
Assistant Coach |
8-1 |
.889 |
Bronze Medal |
| Exhibition vs. Australia |
Assistant Coach |
1-0 |
1.000 |
n/a |
| 2006 USA Women's Senior National Team |
Assistant Coach |
9-1 |
.900 |
Opals World Challenge title |
| 1995 USA Men's Pan American Games Team |
Head Coach |
4-3 |
.571 |
Silver Medal |
| 1993 USA Men's World Champ. Qual. Team |
Head Coach |
6-1 |
.857 |
Gold Medal |
| Totals |
|
50-8 |
.862 |
2 Golds, 2 Silvers, 1 Bronze, 1 tourney title |
|
Professional Coaching History |
|
|
WNBA |
| Year |
Team |
Position |
W-L |
PCT |
Notes |
| 2007 |
Connecticut Sun |
Head Coach |
18-16 |
.529 |
Eastern Conference Playoffs |
| 2006 |
Connecticut Sun |
Head Coach |
26- 8 |
.765 |
Eastern Conf. Finals, league-best record |
| 2005 |
Connecticut Sun |
Head Coach |
26- 8 |
.765 |
WNBA Finals, league-best record |
| 2004 |
Connecticut Sun |
Head Coach |
18-16 |
.529 |
WNBA Finals |
| 2003 |
Connecticut Sun |
Head Coach |
18-16 |
.529 |
Eastern Conference Finals |
| Totals |
5 Seasons |
|
106-64 |
.624 |
|
|
|
NBA |
| Year |
Team |
Position |
W-L |
PCT |
Notes |
| 2001-02 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Asst. Coach |
41- 41 |
.500 |
- |
| 2000-01 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Asst. Coach |
52- 30 |
.634 |
Eastern Conf. Finals, Central Division title |
| 1999-00 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Asst. Coach |
42- 40 |
.512 |
NBA Playoffs first round |
| 1998-99 |
Milwaukee Bucks |
Asst. Coach |
28- 22 |
.560 |
NBA Playoffs first round |
| 1985-86 |
Chicago Bulls |
Asst. Coach |
30- 52 |
.366 |
NBA Playoffs first round |
| 1984-85 |
Chicago Bulls |
Asst. Coach |
38- 44 |
.463 |
NBA Playoffs first round |
| 1983-84 |
Chicago Bulls |
Asst. Coach |
27- 55 |
.329 |
- |
| 1982-83 |
Chicago Bulls |
Asst. Coach |
28- 54 |
.341 |
- |
| 1981-82 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
Asst. Coach |
57- 25 |
.695 |
NBA champions, Pacific Division title |
| 1980-81 |
Los Angeles Lakers |
Asst. Coach |
54- 28 |
.659 |
NBA Playoffs first round |
| Totals |
10 Seasons |
|
397-391 |
.788 |
|
|
CBA |
| Year |
Team |
Position |
W-L |
PCT |
Notes |
| 1996-97 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
22- 34 |
.393 |
National Conference Playoffs |
| 1995-96 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
28- 28 |
.500 |
National Conference Playoffs |
| 1994-95 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
26- 30 |
.464 |
National Conference Playoffs |
| 1993-94 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
30- 26 |
.536 |
CBA Runner-Up |
| 1992-93 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
28- 28 |
.500 |
CBA Champions |
| 1991-92 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
37- 19 |
.661 |
National Conference Finals |
| 1990-91 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
39- 17 |
.696 |
American Conf. Finals, 1st in Midwest Div. |
| 1989-90 |
Omaha Racers |
Head Coach |
29- 27 |
.518 |
National Conference Playoffs |
| Totals: |
8 Seasons |
|
236-205 |
.535 |
|
|
WBL |
| Year |
Team |
Position |
W-L |
PCT |
Notes |
| 1987-88 |
Calgary 88's |
Head Coach |
32-22 |
.593 |
Playoff Semifinals |
|
