Utah Starzz coach Denise Taylor is both happy and sad to see assistant Greg Williams change WNBA addresses.
After spending the league's inaugural season with Utah, Williams has accepted a position with the expansion Detroit Shock. He will serve as assistant coach/director of scouting for the team, which will play its home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills."It was just one of those decisions - a career move - that he had to make," Taylor said. "I'm certainly happy for him, and I know he'll do a great job. But, by the same token, I'm sad that I lost him."
Williams, who joined the Starzz after seven years as head coach at Colorado State University, will reunite with Nancy Leiberman-Cline in Detroit. The head coach/general manager of the Shock was Williams' star player when he directed the Dallas Diamonds of the now-defunct Women's Professional Basketball League. The duo teamed to lead Dallas to the league championship in 1984.
"We are very proud to bring Greg aboard," Leiberman-Cline said. "He is one of the most well respected coaches in the game and has the skills and knowledge to assist us in becoming a contender in our initial season in the WNBA.
"I have known Greg for nearly 20 years and was fortunate to have him as my head coach during my professional playing days," she added. "He taught me how to be a professional."
His departure from Utah, however, has left the Starzz short-handed at a critical time in terms of evaluating college talent for the upcoming WNBA draft. Taylor said she will just have to take on the extra load as she prepares to scout players at college games and tournaments.
"Even though it's important to get someone in here as quickly as possible, we want to make sure we get the right person in here and not rush," Taylor said. "The process is one you wish you could complete tomorrow, but unfortunately it's not that easy."
Taylor and basketball operations boss Scott Layden each said no timetable has been to set to fill the vacancy. The WNBA season doesn't begin until June 11.
"There's a lot of great people out there, and we're going to find one to fill that position," Taylor said. "I think we're going to be fine. As a matter of fact, I know we are."
Utah finished with a league-worst 7-21 record last season.