Liberty hire Whisenant as GM/coach

Bright lights, big city.

John Whisenant said he grew up thinking everything starts in New York.

He now has the chance to experience everything the city has to offer.

The Liberty made Whisenant its new coach and general manager Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"My agents expected there would be job openings," Whisenant said. "It couldn't have worked out any better."

Whisenant brings a wealth of experience to the Liberty.

He spent seven seasons with the Sacramento Monarchs as the general manager. He was coach in five of those seasons, going 85-54 in the regular season.

His finest moment came in 2005 when he was named WNBA coach of the year after the Monarchs won the WNBA championship.

The Monarchs folded after the 2009 season.

When Anne Donovan announced she was stepping down as Liberty coach in March, Whisenant said he spoke with then-Liberty GM Carol Blazejowski about the job. Blazejowski left the Liberty last month.

With the Liberty fresh off its second trip to the Eastern Conference finals in three years, Whisenant said there is enough of a returning nucleus to make a championship run.

First-team All-WNBA guard Cappie Pondexter will be the key component. "I've coached against her and I'm glad she's on my side," Whisenant said. "She's like Kobe and LeBron in the NBA where she can create her own opportunity to score."

The Liberty finished 22-12 last season, tying for first place in the Eastern Conference and losing in the conference finals.