By 605 Sports Staff

The deal will make Tibbetts the highest-paid coach in WNBA history, Wojnarowski reported. Tibbetts was most recently an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic. He’s been with the Magic since 2021, after assistant coaching stops with the Portland Trail Blazers and Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s also been the head coach of the Tulsa 66ers and Sioux Falls Skyforce. 

Phoenix recently announced plans to build a modern, dedicated practice facility as part of a new $100 million investment. The Mercury finished with the WNBA's worst record, 9-31, this season.

A Sioux Falls Roosevelt graduate, Tibbetts played college basketball at the University of South Dakota. Tibbetts is the all-time assist leader in the 88-year history of the North Central Conference. He handed out 465 assists, or 6.5 per game, in conference play while leading the Coyotes to three consecutive NCC championships (1999-2001). Tibbetts ranks second on USD’s all-time lists for both career assists (678) and steals (215).

Tibbetts earned all-NCC honors in 2001 and was named to the NCC all-tournament team that season. In 112 games, Tibbetts scored 572 points (5.1 ppg) and grabbed 321 rebounds (2.9 rpg) while shooting 55 percent from the field.

Tibbetts began his coaching career as an assistant coach for Shane Murphy at the University of Sioux Falls from 2001-05. He was a member of the D-League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce coaching staff for four seasons from 2005-09 and was promoted to head coach after his first two campaigns. He coached two seasons for the 66ers before his ascension into the NBA ranks. 

Tibbetts will be the second South Dakota native to currently be a WNBA head coach. Rapid City native Becky Hammon is currently the head coach of the Las Vegas Aces.