Curt Miller and Chris Koclanes have a familiarity with each other having spent years together coaching in Connecticut with the Sun.
Koclanes was introduced as the Dallas Wings coach Thursday with Miller, who is the team’s general manager, at his side. The pair worked in Connecticut from 2016-22 and helped the Sun reach the WNBA Finals in 2019 and 2022. Miller was hired as the Wings’ general manager last month.
“I view it as such a positive and benefit for me stepping into a first-time head coaching role and have Curt beside me,” Koclanes said. “He’s given me opportunities to stretch myself and challenge myself and be ready for this moment. I’m excited about it. … To have him there as a thought partner is fantastic. He’s going to do everything he can to help me and support me.”
Miller said the team was looking for a coach who could create a positive culture with high integrity, high EQ and was a great communicator and experienced winner. Miller said that his connection with his longtime former assistant almost worked as a detriment to Koclanes in the search, despite the coach fitting into all of those buckets.
“At one point in the process. Greg [Bibb] pulled me aside and said ‘Why are you afraid to hire him? If he’s the best person let’s go,'” Miller…
