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Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh to become Sky's 4th head coach in 3 years

jack baer
Staff writer
·3 min read
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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 07: Assistant coach/head of player development Tyler Marsh of the Las Vegas Aces warms up with players before a game against the Seattle Storm at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 07, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Storm defeated the Aces 78-65. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Tyler Marsh has some work to do with the Sky. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Chicago Sky have their next head coach.

The Sky announced on Sunday that they had officially hired Las Vegas Aces assistant coach Tyler Marsh as their next coach. The news was first reported on Saturday by ESPN's Bobby Marks and the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Callie Fin.

Marsh joins Chicago after three seasons with Las Vegas in which he helped the franchise win back-to-back WNBA championships. In addition to assistant coach, his title included head of player development, and he is widely credited with helping the likes of A'ja Wilson and Jackie Young advance their games.

Before the Aces, Marsh worked for the NBA's Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors, plus four different G League teams.

“I’m so grateful to be the next head coach of the Chicago Sky,” Marsh said in a statement. “Thank you to Jeff Pagliocca, Michael Alter and all of Sky ownership for their belief in me to be the next leader of this franchise. I’m looking forward to building relationships with our players and throughout our entire organization as we work towards establishing a championship culture on and off the court. Thank you to Mark Davis, Nikki Fargas and Matt Delsen for the opportunity to be part of one of the greatest sports organizations in the world. Thank you to Coach Hammon, our staff and all of the Aces’ players for allowing me to make history with you as we brought the city of Las Vegas back-to-back championships. I love you all and wouldn’t be in this position without you.”

His hire continues an eventful offseason for Aces leadership. Another assistant coach, Natalie Nakase, was hired to become the inaugural head coach of the Golden State Valkyries expansion team, while general manager Natalie Williams was let go as part of a front office restructuring.

In Chicago, Marsh will inherit a franchise that has seen significant turbulence since winning the 2021 championship. The team fell short of a repeat in 2022, then saw head coach and general manager James Wade step down after a 7-9 start in 2023. Assistant coach Emre Vatansever took over as interim head coach and GM and went 11-13, but was fired after the season.

Teresa Weatherspoon was hired with the hope she could quickly turn the team back into a contender, but a quiet free agency led to franchise star Kahleah Copper requesting a trade, which was granted. The Sky embraced a full rebuild, drafting Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in the 2024 WNBA Draft, allowing Courtney Williams to walk in free agency and trading away Marina Mabrey.

The Sky ended up going 13-27, missing the playoffs for the first time in six years. Weatherspoon was surprisingly fired, part of a brutal offseason for the WNBA coaching ranks and much to the displeasure of Reese, who is now at the center of Chicago's future plans.

Reese at least signaled her approval of the Marsh hire on Saturday.

Under Marsh, the Sky could still have some rebuilding to do. The team has a lottery pick for 2025, but a pick swap with the Dallas Wings looms as part of the trade that brought Mabrey to Chicago.