First-year head coach led Washington to second playoff appearance

Mystics' Stanley Named 2002 WNBA Coach of the Year

NEW YORK, Aug. 15 -- Washington Mystics Coach Marianne Stanley has been named the 2002 WNBA Coach of the Year after leading Washington (17-15) to its first winning season in team history.

Stanley, who is in her first season as head coach of the Mystics, received 22 of a possible 60 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.

Chamique Holdsclaw teamed with Stanley to give the Mystics their first winning season in franchise history.
Mitchell Layton
WNBAE/Getty Images
Others receiving votes were Seattle�s Lin Dunn (9), New York�s Richie Adubato (8), Portland�s Linda Hargrove (8), Houston�s Van Chancellor (7), Charlotte�s Anne Donovan (3), Utah�s Candi Harvey (2) and Indiana�s Nell Fortner (1).

Stanley guided Washington to its best record in history, as the Mystics secured a playoff berth for the second time -- the first since 2000. Washington, which will take on the Charlotte Sting in the first round of the playoffs, improved from a league tying-worst 10-22 record last season. Stanley was named head coach of the Mystics on April 4, 2002, after serving as an assistant coach with the team in 2001.

The 60-member voting panel consisted of 12 national media representatives, as well as media representatives from each of the league�s 16 markets who cover the WNBA regularly.

COACH OF THE YEAR RESULTS

Marianne Stanley, Washington Mystics --22
Lin Dunn, Seattle Storm -- 9
Richie Adubato, New York Liberty -- 8
Linda Hargrove, Portland Fire -- 8
Van Chancellor, Houston Comets -- 7
Ann Donovan, Charlotte Sting -- 3
Candi Harvey, Utah Starzz -- 2
Nell Fortner, Indiana Fever -- 1

COACH OF THE YEAR WINNERS

2001 -- Dan Hughes, Cleveland Rockers
2000 -- Michael Cooper, Los Angeles Sparks
1999 -- Van Chancellor, Houston Comets
1998 -- Van Chancellor, Houston Comets
1997 -- Van Chancellor, Houston Comets