John Whisenant returns to the Monarchs for his fourth season as Head Coach and his third season as General Manager, after spending one WNBA season as assistant general manager, under then GM, Jerry Reynolds.

In 2005 Whisenant guided the Monarchs to their first ever WNBA Championship and finished the regular season with a franchise-best 25-9 (73.5%) record. He was recognized for his efforts as he was named the 2005 WNBA Coach of the Year, as selected by a national panel of broadcasters and sportswriters. In 2004 Whisenant led the Monarchs to the WNBA Western Conference Finals for their third consecutive appearance (third in franchise history) as they finished the year with an 18-16 regular season record. Midway through the 2003 WNBA season, Whisenant added the title of head coach to his assistant general manager duties for the Sacramento Monarchs. He finished the season with an impressive 12-4 (75%) regular season record and led the Monarchs to the WNBA Western Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history. His current overall record with the Monarchs is 55-29 (65.5%).

Whisenant brings more than 30 years of basketball experience to the Sacramento Monarchs. He delivers a passion for basketball and the knowledge necessary to help the Monarchs reach the next level of excellence.

Whisenant began his basketball career at Connors State College in Warner, Oklahoma (averaged 20.5 ppg) while hitting and leading in baseball at .377 and then continued on to New Mexico as a player for the New Mexico State Aggies where he was a starting guard for Coach Fresley Askew. “Whiz” was NMSU’s second leading scorer in his senior season, averaging 13.1 points-per-game.

Upon completion of his playing days, Whisenant immediately went into coaching at Coffeyville Community Junior College (Kansas). While he was an assistant at Coffeyville, the Red Ravens were 48-10 (2 yrs) (83%).

Next, Whisenant spent four years as head coach at Arizona Western (Yuma) where Whisenant’s teams won three league championships and went to nationals all three times. His record was an impressive 97-30 (76%). The Arizona Western team finished third nationally with a 35-3 record.

After Arizona Western, Whisenant joined the staff of former New Mexico Lobo Coach Norm Ellenberger as head assistant basketball coach. During his seven years, the Lobos went on to a 137-62 (69%) record including two WAC Championships and four post-season appearances. The 1977-78 team ended the season leading the nation in scoring and ranked third nationally.

Following his coaching days with the Lobos, Whisenant has gone on to become a successful businessman with interests in commercial real estate, home construction and horse racing. He has also worked as a consultant to the Maloof family, advising them on their acquisition of the Sacramento Kings. Whisenant has kept his passion for basketball burning, serving as head coach of his son’s AAU team in Albuquerque. Even at the AAU level, Whiz dominated. His team won 176 of 192 games (92%) including six state and regional championships. In 1995, his team won the BCI National Championship and finished fifth in 1996 and third in 1997. In 1999/2000 Whisenant took over the new AAA Pro League New Mexico Slam as vice president of basketball and head coach in the IBL/CBA league with a 51-35 (60%) record. In the leagues only full season the Slam finished second, only a half game behind St. Louis (40-22), at 39-23. This league was a forerunner to the current (NBA) D League.

A native of Gore, Oklahoma, Whisenant is married to Joyce (Mowery) Whisenant, a former women’s basketball player. They have five children: Stan (a doctor and former University of New Mexico basketball player), Daniel (a major and former Air Force Academy basketball player), Johnette, (former women’s basketball player and current girls’ middle school basketball coach), Justin (former Dartmouth College football and basketball player, a doctor and radiology resident) and Jordyn (former women’s basketball player and current UNM graduate student)

Whisenant holds a bachelor of science in physical education from New Mexico State and a MA in history from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas.