Eric Thibault (born August 22, 1987) is an American basketball coach who recently served as the head coach of the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.[1] Thibault was previously an assistant coach for the Mystics since the 2013 season.
.jpg) Thibault with the Washington Mystics in 2024 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 22, 1987 |
| Nationality | American |
| Career information | |
| College | |
| Position | Head coach |
| Coaching career | 2010–present |
| Career history | |
| 2010–2012 | St. John's (graduate assistant) |
| 2013–2019 | Washington Mystics (assistant) |
| 2019–2022 | Washington Mystics (associate HC) |
| 2023–2024 | Washington Mystics |
College
editThibault attended the University of Missouri for his undergraduate English degree and was a member of the Missouri Tiger women's basketball team practice squad during his time. After spending three seasons as a practice player, Thibault moved into a graduate assistant role with the Tigers.[2]
Following one year as a graduate assistant at Missouri, the coaching staff there was let go and Thibault found another graduate assistant opportunity with Kim Barnes Arico and the St. John's Red Storm women's basketball team.[3]
Coaching career
editFollowing his years as a graduate assistant, Thibault got his first assistant coaching job with the VCU Rams women's basketball team.[4] Thibault only spent one year there before he left to go the WNBA coaching ranks.
Thibault was named an assistant coach on the Washington Mystics staff in May of 2013.[5] Prior to the 2019 season, the Mystics promoted him to Associate head coach, a position that he held until the end of the 2022 season.[6]
Washington Mystics
editThibault was promoted to the Mystics head coach position in November of 2022, following the coaching retirement of his father and previous Mystics head coach Mike Thibault.[7]
WNBA
edit| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAS | 2023 | 40 | 19 | 21 | .475 | 4th in Eastern | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost in 1st Round |
| WAS | 2024 | 40 | 14 | 26 | .350 | 5th in Eastern | — | — | — | – | Missed Playoffs |
| Career | 80 | 33 | 47 | .413 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
Personal life
editThibault's father is Mike Thibault, who has coached in both the NBA and the WNBA for numerous years. Mike is currently the Washington Mystics General Manager. His sister is Carly Thibault-DuDonis, who is currently the head coach for the Fairfield Stags women's basketball team.[8]
Eric is married to his wife, Andreya, and they are the parents of son Dean, born in May of 2023.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Washington Mystics' Eric Thibault to coach; dad Mike Thibault moves to GM". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Briggs, David. "Thibault a chip off the old block". columbiatribune.com. Columbia Tribune. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Altavilla, John. "Eric Thibault Following In Father's Footsteps". Courant.com. The Hartford Courant. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Marc, Allard. "Sun coach's son earns assistant job at VCU". norwichbulletin.com. Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ Albert, Lee. "Washington Mystics hire Eric Thibault as assistant coach". swishappeal.com. Swish Appeal. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "ERIC THIBAULT ELEVATED TO ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "MIKE THIBAULT TO RETIRE FROM COACHING". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Carly Thibault-DuDonis Named Head Coach of Fairfield Women's Basketball". Fairfield.edu. Fairfield News. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Eric Thibault, Head Coach". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 13 December 2022.