Assessing the Future of Gophers Women's Basketball under Lindsay Whalen

The article discusses the Gophers women's basketball team and its coach, Lindsay Whalen. The author states that the team has not shown significant improvement in the five years since Whalen was hired, and calls for a change in leadership if the team does not improve in the upcoming season. The author acknowledges that Whalen's lack of coaching experience requires patience, but argues that six years is ample time for any coach to provide evidence of their coaching chops. The article also addresses criticisms that Whalen has received more latitude than any coach not named Lindsay Whalen would have been granted, and attributes this to her Hall of Fame playing career. The article concludes that Whalen's hiring generated big headlines and hopes that she would provide the same magic touch as a coach that she did as a player, but that this has not yet materialized.

In 2018, when Gophers women's basketball coach Marlene Stollings left for Texas Tech, there was a public plea for the athletic director Mark Coyle to consider Lindsay Whalen for the job. Despite Whalen's lack of coaching experience, there was the belief that the potential payoff was worth the risk. However, Whalen's lack of coaching experience has shown this year and if the team doesn't show dramatic improvement next year, it's time for a new direction. The Gophers recently lost 72-67 to Penn State in the first round of the Big Ten women's tournament at Target Center. This loss, among other things, puts Whalen's coaching career in question. Her lack of experience required patience, but six years is ample time for any coach to provide tangible evidence of his or her coaching chops. The Gophers have not had any NCAA tournament appearances in Whalen's five seasons, and they are 32-58 in the Big Ten. Whalen earned a longer grace period due to her Hall of Fame playing career, but there is only so much patience and time to give to any coach. The pressure on Whalen has been cranked up now and her hiring five years ago generated big headlines and hoped that she would provide the same magic touch as a coach that she did as a fiery point guard. That has not been the case, and if significant improvement in results is not shown, then it is time for a new direction.

The article discusses the state of the University of Minnesota's women's basketball program under head coach Lindsay Whalen. The author argues that after five seasons without an NCAA tournament appearance and a mediocre conference record, the program has reached an inflection point and that Whalen must show significant improvement next year or face the possibility of being let go. The author acknowledges that Whalen's lack of coaching experience required patience from the start, but notes that six years is ample time for any coach to provide tangible evidence of his or her coaching chops.

The author also discusses the potential risks and rewards of hiring W

halen, who had no coaching experience at the time of her hiring. The author argues that while the move carried a high boom-or-bust inevitability, the equity that Whalen earned through her Hall of Fame playing career bought her more time and patience than a coach without her pedigree would have received.

Overall, the article reflects on the challenges faced by a first-time coach in a power conference and the expectations that come with leading a program with a storied history. The author ultimately argues that Whalen has earned one more season to show that she is capable of building the program toward consistent success.