Brian Agler
From Hoopedia
Brian Agler is a basketball coach, currently the head coach of WNBA's Seattle Storm. He has been the Head coach of two other professional women's teams, and won two professional titles as coach.
Agler attended Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, where he starred on the basketball team for four seasons. He started all 112 games during his college career leaving the school as the all-time assist leader (481). Agler helped lead his team to a 91-21 record during his four years with the Tigers and helped the Tigers win the 1977 NCAA Division III Men's Tournament Championship as a point guard, and graduated in 1980 with a degree in special education and physical education. He received his master’s degree in education from Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, Kansas) in 1985. Agler and his wife Robin, have one son, Bryce, and one daughter, Taylor.
College Coaching
Agler spent 15 seasons coaching among the college ranks, including 13 seasons as a head coach. He posted an impressive collegiate record of 248-135 (.648 winning percentage). From 1993-96 he served as the head women’s basketball coach at Kansas State.
In 1988, Agler took over as the head women’s coach at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In five seasons at UMKC, Agler was 85-54 and took the Kangaroos from a 9-16 record in 1988-89 to four straight winning seasons with 17 or more victories. Under his direction, UMKC led the NCAA in scoring defense three consecutive seasons from 1990-93. In 1991, UMKC set an NCAA team record, allowing 51.8 points per game.
As the head women’s basketball coach at Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College from 1984-88, Agler compiled a 124-42 record (.747 winning percentage). In 1985-86, NEO A&M was ranked second nationally and posted a 30-2 record.
Pro Coaching
As Head coach of the Columbus Quest of the American Basketball League (1996-1998), Agler led the team to a combined 82-22 record and two ABL Championships. He was named ABL Coach of the Year in 1997.
After the ABL collapsed in late 1998, Agler made the shift to the WNBA. He became the first head coach and general manager of the Minnesota Lynx, piloting them to a 48-67 record from 1999-2002. Agler completed his third season as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2007. Prior to joining San Antonio, he served as assistant coach with the Phoenix Mercury and helped guide the team to a 17-17 record after the Mercury finished with an 8-26 record in 2003. On January 9, 2008 the Seattle Storm named Brian head coach succeeding Anne Donovan who had resigned in November 2007.
In 1995, he was inducted into the Wittenberg Hall of Honor.
