Joe Bryant and Sandy Brondello Join Sparks� Coaching Staff

The Los Angeles Sparks have completed their 2011 coaching staff with the hiring of Joe �Jellybean� Bryant and Sandy Brondello as assistant coaches, it was announced today.

Bryant, who previously served as Sparks� head coach from late-2005 through the 2006 season, and Brondello � bringing six years of experience from the San Antonio Silver Stars� staff � will work alongside second-year head coach Jennifer Gillom. Combined, the trio boasts over a decade of WNBA coaching experience, while all three have also played basketball at the highest level.

�I feel we�ve assembled a strong and diverse coaching staff, one that compliments our talented roster and can guide the Sparks to a WNBA title in 2011,� General Manager Penny Toler said. �Jennifer, Joe and Sandy are all exceptionally skilled in both player development and game management, and are excited to begin working together.�

Bryant begins his second tour of duty with the Sparks after most recently serving as head coach of Raru Kamuy Hokkaido, a Japanese first division men�s team, and teaching at a private basketball academy in Japan. He�s also held head coaching positions with the Tokyo Apache and Italy�s Sebastiani Rieti.

Beginning as an assistant with the Sparks in 2005, Bryant was promoted to head coach late in the season and guided them to a WNBA Playoff appearance. The following year, Los Angeles finished atop the Western Conference at 25-9 � the second-best record in the league � and reached the Conference Finals.

As a player, Bryant enjoyed an eight-year NBA career before spending nearly a decade in Italy. He is the father of Los Angeles Lakers� superstar Kobe Bryant.

�I�m really happy to join Jennifer�s staff and be back with the Sparks� organization. The pieces are all in place to bring a trophy to Los Angeles this season,� Bryant said. �Personally, I�ve always enjoyed coaching women and being a part of the WNBA.�

Brondello comes to Los Angeles after serving as the Silver Stars� head coach in 2010, guiding them to a Western Conference Semifinal berth. Previously she served as an assistant in San Antonio for five years (2005-2009), helping the team earn its first Western Conference Championship and trip to the WNBA Finals in 2008.

A WNBA veteran, she played five seasons with the Seattle Storm (2003), Miami Sol (2001-02) and the Detroit Shock (1998-99), averaging 11.4 points and 2.3 assists in 155 career games. Brondello played in the inaugural WNBA All-Star Game in 1999, and ranks fourth in league history with her 41.0% career three-point percentage. She has also represented her native Australia at the highest level, winning silver medals at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics as well as a bronze in 1996.

�I�m excited to continue my coaching career in the WNBA, and particularly excited to work with the team that Penny and Jennifer have assembled here in Los Angeles,� Brondello said.

The Sparks begin their 15th WNBA season on Friday, June 3, hosting the Minnesota Lynx at STAPLES Center at 8 p.m. PT. For group and season ticket information, call 877-44-SPARKS (772757) or visit LASparks.com.