FGCU women’s basketball coach Karl Smesko shocked many in Southwest Florida Wednesday with the announcement he was stepping down after 23 years and two games into the 2024-25 season to take the head coaching position with the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream.
His departure leaves significant shoes to be filled in a women’s basketball program that had long been successful under his tenure. The Eagles made a corresponding move the same day, promoting longtime assistant coach Chelsea Lyles, the team’s associate head coach, to the role with no interim tag.
Road woes: FGCU women’s basketball starts 0-2 for first time as a Division I program after Columbia loss
Lyles, who makes $110,000 annually, has a new contract still in the works according to FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis.
In a statement released by the Atlanta Dream Wednesday, the organization said it would have an introductory press conference for Smesko next week.
Karl Smesko’s resignation letter from FGCU women’s basketball
Smesko, who submitted the letter on Tuesday, stated he could work until Dec. 1 because his new WNBA position begins Aug. 2. And an addendum written on the letter by Hargis signified by his circled initials, indicates Smesko’s last date working for FGCU is Nov. 26.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Read Karl Smesko’s resignation letter to Florida Gulf Coast University to take WNBA job
