John Harold Whisenant Jr. (born June 18, 1945) is an American former head coach for the
Sacramento Monarchs
The Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009. They played their home games at ARCO Arena.
The Mona ...
and
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Liberty compete in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) as part of the league's Eastern Conference. The team was f ...
in the
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is an American professional basketball league. It is composed of twelve teams, all based in the United States. The league was founded on April 22, 1996, as the women's counterpart to the Natio ...
(WNBA).
Coaching career
After starting at
Connors Junior College in
Warner, Oklahoma
Warner is a town in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 1,641 at the 2010 census, an increase of 14.8 percent over the figure of 1,430 recorded in 2000. The town is home to one of the two Connors State College campuses.< ...
, Whisenant transferred to
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University (NMSU or NM State) is a public land-grant research university based primarily in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest public institution of higher education in New Mexico and one of the state's tw ...
in 1963 and played two seasons, including a senior season leading the team at 13.1 points per game.
Whisenant began his coaching career as an assistant coach at
Coffeyville Community College
Coffeyville Community College (CCC) is a community college located in Coffeyville, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1923.
Coffeyville Community College is a member of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference and the National Ju ...
in 1966; Coffeyville went 48–10 in his two years on staff. From 1968 to 1972, Whisenant was head coach at
Arizona Western Junior College and led the school to three league championships and a cumulative 97–30 record.
From 1972 to 1979, Whisenant was an assistant coach at
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
under
Norm Ellenberger
Norman Dale Ellenberger (August 2, 1932 – November 15, 2015) was an American football, basketball, and baseball player and coach. He was head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobo basketball team from 1972 to 1979, winning Western Athleti ...
and helped New Mexico accumulate a record of 137–62 and two
WAC championships.
Whisenant began a business career focusing on real estate and horse racing after leaving the New Mexico coaching staff. He also coached his son's
AAU team in Albuquerque and had a cumulative 176–16 record.
From 1999 to 2001, Whisenant was head coach and vice president of basketball operations for the
New Mexico Slam of the
International Basketball League
The International Basketball League (IBL) was a semi-professional men's basketball league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States. In 2010 the Albany Legends became the first team in the Northeastern United States to join. The ...
. The Slam went 51–35 in its two seasons of existence, including 38–26 in 1999–2000.
After his stint with the Monarchs, Whisenant was coach and GM for the New York Liberty. On October 25, 2012, the Liberty announced that Whisenant would be leaving the team.
Outside of coaching, Whisenant is a partner in a commercial real estate firm in
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whisenant, John
1945 births
American men's basketball coaches
American men's basketball players
American women's basketball coaches
basketball coaches from Oklahoma
basketball players from Oklahoma
Coffeyville Red Ravens men's basketball players
Connors State Cowboys basketball players
junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States
living people
New Mexico Lobos men's basketball coaches
New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball players
New York Liberty head coaches
people from Gore, Oklahoma
Pittsburg State University alumni
Sacramento Monarchs coaches
Women's National Basketball Association championship-winning head coaches
Women's National Basketball Association executives
Women's National Basketball Association general managers