Mike Thibault Takes Over as Coach of Belgium's National Women's Basketball Team
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Loading... - Damaris Abbott
- 31 Jan 2025
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Former WNBA coach Mike Thibault has been appointed as the new head coach of Belgium's national women's basketball team, succeeding Rachid Meziane, who has taken the helm of the Connecticut Sun. At 74 years old, Thibault brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record to the role.
National team General Manager Koen Umans expressed confidence in Thibault's capabilities, stating, “Mike Thibault is a fantastic coach and he has a profile that is completely in line with what we had in mind. He has proven in his career that he is a real winner and can give a team that extra push. He has tons of experience at the highest level and has excellent management qualities. He also fits perfectly into our current culture and structure."
Thibault steps into the position following a successful run for the Belgian Cats, who recently finished fourth after losing to Australia in the bronze medal game at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He will inherit a veteran squad featuring key players such as Emma Meesseman, Julie Vanloo, and Julie Allemand.
Before taking on this role, Thibault served as an assistant coach with USA Basketball, contributing to the team's gold medal victories at the 2004 and 2008 Olympics. He has an extensive coaching background in the WNBA, having led teams in Connecticut and Washington from 2003 to 2022 before transitioning to the role of General Manager for the Washington Mystics in 2023. He parted ways with the Mystics after the most recent season.
Thibault's immediate challenge will be to guide the Belgian Cats in their quest to qualify for the upcoming World Cup in Germany. He expressed his enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am honored to be the new coach of the Cats. The enormous growth of this team is recognized and respected worldwide, and I was privileged to experience this up close. This is a team where the key players are at the height of their careers, and I look forward to playing for the prizes in the coming years. I will do everything I can to get the most out of this special group.”
