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Longtime Mystics coach Mike Thibault retiring to GM role, son Eric Thibault to take over

Longtime Washington Mystics coach Mike Thibault is retiring.

Thibault will step down from his post leading the Mystics on the court, the team announced on Tuesday. He will instead move into the front office and remain as the team’s general manager.

The Mystics will replace Thibault with his son, Eric Thibault — who has been the team’s associate head coach for the last decade.

"I am proud to have been the head coach of the Washington Mystics the past 10 years," Thibault said in a statement. "After 55 years in coaching (the last 20 in the WNBA), I feel like it is time to turn this team over to Eric and his coaching staff on the court. He is ready and prepared for it.

"I am looking forward to my continued role as GM, working together with the incredible energy that [assistant general manager Maria Giovannetti], Eric and the rest of the staff bring in order to continue our pursuit of another WNBA Championship ... I have been blessed to have worked with so many great players here in D.C. and throughout my career, and I'm excited to still be around the wonderful core group we have returning this coming season."

Thibault has spent the last 10 seasons with the Mystics, where he led them to a title in 2019. Before jumping to Washington, Thibault spent 10 seasons as the head coach of the Connecticut Sun. He led that franchise to back-to-back WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005.

In total, the three-time WNBA Coach of the Year finished with a 379-289 overall record. He is the winningest head coach in league history.

Eric Thibault will now lead the Mystics, who are coming off a 22-14 season. He has essentially been the “coach-in-waiting” for some time now, so his promotion shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

"I don't know that it's my choice," Eric told NBC Sports Washington last month. "Succession plan usually requires the people above you agreeing on everything. So that's great. I mean, [Mike] and ownership have the right to change their mind, but I don't take any of that for granted. I don't feel entitled to anything. If it shakes out that way, that's great and I'll be ready, and I'll feel proud of that."

This post will be updated with more information shortly.