Cheryl Reeve, a WNBA assistant coach the past nine years, has confidence, that's for sure.

"It's not about being a playoff team, the Minnesota Lynx are a playoff team," said the WNBA team's new head coach on Tuesday. "It's about how far we are going to advance in the playoffs. ... That's going to be our focus."

Bold words considering Reeve is taking over a team that has reached the playoffs only twice in its 10-year history, 2003 and 2004, and never has won a playoff series. Last season under rookie coach Jen Gillom, the Lynx finished 14-20 after starting 7-3 in June. But star Seimone Augustus suffered a season-ending knee injury in the sixth game and her loss eventually took a toll.

When the season ended, team executive vice president Roger Griffith said he hoped Gillom would be back. Instead negotiations broke down, Gillom and her agent asked for permission to talk to the Los Angeles Sparks about their coaching opening and the Lynx developed a list of other candidates.

Reeve rose to the top of that list and the Lynx have been in discussions with her for a few weeks. "The thing that most impressed us about her as a person are, No. 1, her confidence and utmost belief she can lead this team to where we want to be," Griffith said.

Reeve, 43, has coached at Charlotte, Cleveland and Detroit in the WNBA. She has been on the staff of seven playoff teams. Four advanced to the WNBA Finals; two, both in Detroit, won championships in 2006 and 2008.

She was named the Shock's general manager three games into the 2009 season while remaining an assistant coach, too. But the Detroit franchise is relocating to Tulsa for the 2010 season and Nolan Richardson, who had three men's Final Four teams at Arkansas, was named its head coach.

Reeve knows she is ready for such a job, so when the Lynx called, she listened.

With the Lynx, Reeve has a strong returning core of players, plus the No. 1 and 3 picks in the WNBA draft in April and the second pick in the dispersal draft of Sacramento Monarchs players on Monday. At least one of two former all-star forwards, Nicole Powell or Rebekkah Brunson, will be available.

"This is a great time to be here with the Lynx," Reeve said.