Following her removal as head coach of the women's basketball team, Lindsay Whalen has opted to leave the University of Minnesota entirely, declining an administrative role. The details of her departure were revealed in a release agreement obtained by the Associated Press, initially reported by the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The agreement stipulates a $215,000 buyout for Whalen, a provision in her contract for termination without cause.
While the University's initial announcement on March 2nd, by Athletic Director Mark Coyle, characterized the coaching change as a mutual decision, with Whalen expected to transition into a special assistant role focusing on fundraising and NIL opportunities, the release agreement uses more direct language, referring to the action as a firing. The agreement states, "The University determined it was in the best interests of the University to make a change to the head coaching position."
Coyle had previously indicated that Whalen's new role would maintain her head coaching salary, with two years remaining on her contract. Her base salary for the 2022-23 season was $547,000. This transition, however, will no longer take place.
Whalen's five-season tenure as head coach concluded with a challenging 11-19 record overall and a 4-12 mark in the Big Ten, tying for 12th place. This marked the program's lowest win total in 12 years. Whalen, a distinguished member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, achieved remarkable success as a player for the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Olympic team, and in the WNBA. Her coaching record at Minnesota stands at 71-76.
The University of Minnesota subsequently appointed Dawn Plitzuweit from West Virginia as the new women's basketball coach on March 18th.
