The Chicago Sky’s new coach, Tyler Marsh, brings with him a wealth of experience learning from top professionals in the industry. Prior to joining the Sky, Marsh was a key part of Becky Hammon’s championship-winning staff in Las Vegas and also gained knowledge from respected NBA coaches Nick Nurse and Rick Carlisle.
During a recent visit to Chicago, Nurse and Carlisle expressed their confidence in Marsh’s ability to lead the Sky as his head coaching debut. Nurse jokingly remarked on Marsh’s four championship rings, highlighting his successful coaching career.
Marsh’s journey began with Nurse hiring him as a player development coach for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers in the D-League, where they won the championship. This led to a continued partnership as Nurse moved up in the coaching ranks, eventually winning another ring with Marsh on his staff.
Both Nurse and Carlisle praised Marsh for his attention to detail and ability to gain respect from players despite his reserved nature. They believe Marsh has the potential to excel as a head coach by drawing inspiration from his mentors.
Marsh aims to bring his own style to coaching in Chicago while incorporating qualities from his mentors like effective communication, strategic play schemes, and bold decision-making.
Nurse recalled a fearless moment in the 2019 NBA Finals, where Marsh was part of a daring coaching move that ultimately led to a championship victory for the team. The experience taught Nurse the importance of taking risks and thinking outside the box, a trait he hopes Marsh will carry into his coaching role with the Sky.
Transitioning from an NBA assistant coach to a WNBA head coach has become a trend, with Marsh following in the footsteps of coaches like Hammon and Tibbetts. Nurse and Carlisle believe that the experience of being a head coach, regardless of the league, is invaluable and something every assistant aspires to achieve.
While there may be differences in pay between the NBA and the WNBA, the level of coaching expertise in the WNBA is on par with the top echelons of the profession. As the WNBA continues to grow, Nurse and Carlisle predict more crossover in coaching talent between the leagues.
Carlisle emphasized that WNBA head coaching positions are highly coveted and offer a compelling opportunity for coaches looking to make an impact in the industry.
