Mercury sign coach Gaines to extension

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Mercury signed head coach Corey Gaines to a contract extension, the club announced Sunday. Per team policy, specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

"Corey has had an undeniable impact on the franchise and developed a proven model for success here," said Mercury president and general manager Ann Meyers Drysdale. "His ability to connect with and lead our players has resulted in two championships, and we look forward to continuing that trend this season."
 
Originally named the club's seventh head coach on Nov. 7, 2007, Gaines has compiled a 54-48 (.529) record in three seasons and boasts the third-highest win percentage in franchise history (behind Cheryl Miller and Paul Westhead).

Last season, Gaines became just the second coach in franchise history to win 50 games (along with Miller) and led the Mercury to their third Western Conference finals appearance in the last four years. He has compiled more postseason victories than any coach in franchise history (9-6), including a trip to the 2009 WNBA finals in just his second season at the helm and the club's second championship in three seasons.
 
At the beginning of the 2010-11 NBA season, Gaines was named a player development coach for the Phoenix Suns. His role is to train young players, and additional responsibilities as assigned by the coaching and basketball operations staffs.
 
A 21-year basketball veteran on the collegiate, professional and international levels, Gaines first joined the Mercury as the top assistant under Westhead in 2006 and was in charge of an offense that set WNBA records for scoring average in both 2006 (87.1) and 2007 (89.0). With Gaines on the sidelines, the Mercury have led the league in scoring in five consecutive seasons and have set WNBA scoring records in four of the last five seasons, including 2010 (93.9).
 
As a player, Gaines spent five seasons with five NBA teams before playing 12 years internationally.