Emre Vatansever

Emre Vatansever is a professional basketball coach who most recently served as the interim head coach and general manager of the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).[1][2][3] Vantansever has previously been the head coach at Çukurova Basketbol and an assistant with Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi and Galatasaray. He got his start in the WNBA serving as a coaching intern for the Seattle Storm.

Emre Vatansever
Personal information
NationalityTurkish
Career information
CollegeMarmara University
Coaching career2002–present
Career history
As coach:
2002–2007Migros Basketball (HC/Asst.)
2008–2014Galatasaray (Asst.)
2015–2018Seattle Storm (Intern)
2017–2019Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi (Asst.)
2018–2023Chicago Sky (Asst.)
2022Çukurova Basketbol
2023Chicago Sky (interim)
Career highlights and awards
As assistant coach:

Coaching career

Galatasaray

Vatansever spent seven years at Galatsaray as an assistant coach. During his time as assistant with Galatsaray, Vatansever was a part of the teams that won the Turkish Cup in 2010 and the EuroLeague Women's Championship in 2014.

Seattle Storm

Vatansever’s first coaching job in the WNBA was as a coaching intern on Jenny Boucek’s Seattle Storm staff.[3] Vatansever's time in Seattle included a lot of different roles including being an advance scout for the team.[4]

Yakın Doğu Üniversites

Vatansever spent two years at Yakın Doğu Üniversites, where he was an assistant coach for the squad.[5][6]

Chicago Sky

Vatansever joined the Chicago Sky in 2018 on Amber Stocks's coaching staff as a player development assistant coach. When Stock was let go following the 2018 season, Vatansever was retained when James Wade was hired.[7] Vatansever became the acting head coach for two games in 2022, when Wade was sidelined for COVID. Vatansever helped the Sky go 2-0 during that time.[8]

In the 2023 season, then head coach James Wade stepped down on July 1, 2023 and took an assistant coaching position with the Toronto Raptors. Vatansever was named as the interim head coach and general manager for the Sky - this being his first head coaching stint in the WNBA.[1][9] He became the first Turkish coach to take on the position of head coach in the WNBA.

After the conclusion of the Chicago Sky’s 2023 season, the Chicago Sky announced that Vatansever will not return as head coach and general manager of their team. [10]

Çukurova

Vatansever earned his first head-coaching role in 2022 when Çukurova BK in Turkey hired him to be their head coach. His roster includes five current WNBA players: Chelsea Gray, Briann January, Tiffany Hayes, DeWanna Bonner, and Jonquel Jones.[3] Vatansever held the responsibility of head coach with Çukurova Mersin until early December when the club announced it had parted ways with him.[11]

Head coaching record

WNBA
Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
CHI 2023 241113.4584th in Eastern202.000 Lost in 1st Round
Career 241113.458202.000

Personal life

Vatansever married professional basketball player Kristen Newlin. She played in Turkey since she graduated from Stanford in 2008, including on the Turkish national team for several years as a naturalized citizen. The couple have three children together.[12]

References
  1. Philippou, Alexa. "James Wade, Sky GM and coach, joining NBA's Raptors' staff". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. "Chicago Sky Adds Another Parker Connection With the Hiring of Tonya Edwards". beyondwomenssports.com. Beyond Women's Sports. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  3. Costabile, Annie. "Sky coaching staff wears many hats during WNBA offseason". chicago.suntimes.com. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  4. Philippou, Alexa; Voepel, M.V. "What's next for the Chicago Sky after Wade's exit for the NBA?". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. "Emre Vatansever". linkedin.com. Linked In. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  6. "Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi'nin Büyük Gururu". neu.edu.tr. Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  7. Niendorf, Nicholas. "Chicago Sky hire Australian national team assistant coach Olaf Lange". highposthoops.com. High Post Hoops. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  8. Kay, James. "Chicago Sky notebook: James Wade's feelings, Vatansever steps up, Allemand settles in". thenexthoops.com. The Next Hoop. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  9. "Chicago Sky Statement on James Wade". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  10. "Chicago Sky Announce Coaching Update". sky.wnba.com. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  11. Pickman, Ben. "Why WNBA coaches who also work internationally say it's enlightening, enriching and exhausting". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  12. Hatfield, Jenn. "Kristen Newlin Vatansever shares the balance of motherhood and pro basketball overseas". highposthoops.com. High Post Hoops. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
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