When Walt Hopkins was hired as the head coach of the New York Liberty, it was much maligned for it being the eighth male coach in an all-women league with only four woman head coaches and only two African-American coaches.
Shelley Patterson is African-American. She is a former assistant with the Minnesota Lynx under Cheryl Reeve (as is Hopkins). And she is now an assistant coach under Hopkins with the Liberty.
The value of her steady demeanor, her ability to create and maintain genuine relationships, and her nearly unparalleled experience and knowledge cannot possibly be overstated.
–Walt Hopkins, Liberty head coach (per press release)
After working alongside her for three seasons, I can say with absolute certainty that we are not only getting a fantastic coach, but also an exceptional human being who exemplifies many of the qualities that are necessary to build a sustainable championship-level culture.
–Walt Hopkins, Liberty head coach (per press release)
Patterson’s 30-year career includes stints with the Houston Comets, Indiana Fever, Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm in addition to the Lynx … and five WNBA titles as a coach. She also spent time in the NWBL as well as the ABL along with collegiate stops at Ohio, Arizona, Wake Forest and Dayton.
Walt and I shared many days and nights in the office together planning and strategizing for upcoming opponents, so I know all about his work ethic. His positive attitude will be contagious and very important when creating a culture for future champions.
–Shelley Patterson, Liberty assistant coach (per press release)
The move completes what essentially was a virtual trade of coaches between the Liberty and Lynx. Katie Smith, former head coach and assistant under Bill Laimbeer to Minnesota while Hopkins and Patterson move east to Brooklyn.
