FGCU women’s basketball coach Karl Smesko shocked many in Southwest Florida Wednesday with the announcement he was stepping down after 23 years and two games into the 2024-25 season to take the head coaching position with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.
His departure leaves significant shoes to be filled in a women’s basketball program that had long been successful under his tenure. The Eagles made a corresponding move the same day, promoting longtime assistant coach Chelsea Lyles, the team’s associate head coach, to the role with no interim tag.
Road woes:FGCU women’s basketball starts 0-2 for first time as a Division I program after Columbia loss
Lyles, who makes $110,000 annually, has a new contract still in the works according to FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis.
In a statement released by the Atlanta Dream Wednesday, the organization said it would have an introductory press conference for Smesko next week.
Karl Smesko’s record at FGCU
As the founding coach of the FGCU women’s basketball program, he has steered the Eagles’ ascension from its Division II origins to its current status as one of the most consistently successful teams in the nation. He finished with an overall record of 611-112 with FGCU, including 14 consecutive 25-win seasons, a streak only matched by UConn.
Since beginning Division I play in 2007-08, FGCU dominated the Atlantic Sun Conference, winning 14 regular season titles and 10 ASUN tournament championships. Including tournament play, the Eagles went 268-19 against conference foes, helping Smesko earn 13 ASUN Coach of the Year awards. Smesko led FGCU to 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and four victories, all in the first round. The Eagles are the first program in women’s basketball history to win three NCAA Tournament games as a 12-seed.
With an overall winning percentage of .832 (672-137), Smesko is the third-winningest active Division I head coach behind only UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey.
Where was Karl Smesko before FGCU
Smesko became FGCU’s first coach in May 2001 after head coaching stops at NAIA Walsh University (1997-98) and Purdue University Fort Wayne (1999-2001). At Walsh, Smesko led the Cavaliers to an NAIA Division II title in his first and only season.
Why did Karl Smesko leave FGCU
The 54-year-old told The News-Press and Naples Daily News that the Atlanta Dream approached him about their vacant head coaching position. The Dream, which haven’t had a winning record since the 2018 season, went 15-25 last season. Atlanta fired coach Tanisha Wright last month after falling in the opening round of the playoffs for the second straight year.
“I’m a big fan of the WNBA and I’ve always been intrigued by the possibility of coaching at that level,” Smesko said Wednesday afternoon. “I got a phone call that they were interested in speaking to me and I just had a great conversation with the GM and the owner and it seemed like everything was aligned and I thought it was an opportunity that I couldn’t really pass up.
“I follow the WNBA pretty closely, so I was aware of all the openings. I didn’t really think anything would come of it in terms of me being involved, but when I got the call I was definitely eager to listen. And then, when it was Atlanta and some of the talent they have on that team, I became even more excited about it.”
Karl Smesko’s resignation letter from FGCU women’s basketball
Smesko, who submitted the letter on Tuesday, stated he could work until Dec. 1 because his new WNBA position begins Dec. 2. And an addendum written on the letter by Hargis signified by his circled initials, indicates Smesko’s last date working for FGCU is Nov. 26.
