Pelham native and Pelham Memorial High School graduate Chris Koclanes was appointed as the head coach of the WNBA team the Dallas Wings on Dec. 23, as announced by the Dallas Wings in a press release.
Prior to this role, Koclanes served as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California for two seasons. He has also spent eight seasons in the WNBA, working closely with current Dallas Wings General Manager Curt Miller, as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2023. Before that, he worked with the Connecticut Sun as a video coordinator in 2016 and as an assistant coach in 2019, where he also handled defensive coordination.
“We vetted and interviewed over 30 candidates from various backgrounds, including the WNBA, NBA, collegiate game, and international game,” said Miller. The team focused on four main pillars during the search process: a culture creator with integrity, a coach with strong basketball IQ and EQ, a good communicator, and a proven winner. “Chris excels in all these areas,” Miller added.
“I am excited to work with our players to establish a solid foundation and build a sustainable championship culture both on and off the court,” said Koclanes during a press conference.
Koclanes credits his preparedness for this role to the mentorship he received from other coaches and leaders. “I am thrilled to empower the women of this league as we strive to take the WNBA to new heights.”
After graduating from PMHS in 2007, Koclanes pursued a degree in finance at Old Dominion University. During his time there, he was involved with the Monarchs as a scout team player and manager from 2008-2010. Following graduation, he worked as a financial advisor in New York City for two years.
In 2012, he began working in operations at William & Mary before transitioning to a role as a video coordinator at Saint Joseph’s in 2013, where he also earned a master’s degree in organization development and leadership.
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