Atlanta Dream hires long-time FGCU coach

The Atlanta Dream has hired longtime Florida Gulf Coast University coach Karl Smesko to lead the team as he steps down as head women’s basketball coach of the Eagles.

FGCU announced the news that Smesko was headed to the WNBA on Wednesday morning.

Smesko built FGCU into a perennial NCAA tournament team and has the third-highest winning percentage in women’s college basketball.

Smesko arrived in Fort Myers in 2002 tasked with building the FGCU women’s basketball program from the ground up. In his first year, he led fledgling Division II FGCU to a 30-1 record.

Smesko stayed to oversee FGCU’s jump from the Division II ranks into a full-fledged NCAA Division I program, joining the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2007.

The Eagles continued to see unmatched success, winning 84 of their first 85 conference home games. 

Smesko won 20 or more games each season at FGCU and also posted seven 30-win campaigns with the Eagles.

Under his 23-year leadership, FGCU earned the distinction of being the winningest D-I program in the history of college basketball, with a .845 all-time winning percentage.

Long-time associate head coach Chelsea Lyles has been named the second head coach in FGCU program history.

A 2010 graduate of FGCU, Lyles is a former player for Smesko who has risen through the ranks on the FGCU coaching staff from student assistant to her new position as the program’s leader.

“I’m grateful to be the coach of a place that I loved and respected since I was 20 years old,” said Lyles.

Lyles was named the head coach on Wednesday, now that Smesko is heading to the WNBA to be the head coach of the Atlanta Dream.

“Not only has he been a great mentor and boss but he’s also a great friend of mine,” said Lyles. “And so he’s somebody I’ve leaned on a lot throughout my career and so obviously I’m super proud of him. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him.”

Lyles shares what she learned most from Smesko.

“He definitely taught me the value of hard work. In order for me to be successful at this job, I’m going to have to work hard. And that’s something he’s displayed every single day,” said Lyles.

FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis says Lyles was the first and only person on his list.

“She’s an incredible teammate. She’s been part of an incredible program with culture. The identity and foundation they’ve built here. So when you think about ‘who do you want to lead and succeed this program?’ It’s Chelsea,” said Hargis.

Lyles is set on maintaining Smesko level of success.

“We’re going to have to come together make this season special. The expectations are still the same. We’re still striving for excellence and we are still have the same goals as we always have,” said Lyles.

When WINK Sports spoke to Smesko on Wednesday, he said Lyles is an amazing coach and person who will do great things for the program.

Lyles coaches her first game as head coach Sunday in the teams home opener against NJIT.