Lynx tap assistant to be head coach

There was a short grieving period Tuesday evening after Lynx practice. Coach Don Zierden took his players into the video room at Target Center and told them he was resigning.

On Wednesday, second-year Lynx assistant coach Jen Gillom was introduced as Zierden's successor. She is the sixth head coach in the Lynx's 11-year history.

"Wow, what a blessing," said Gillom, a former Olympian and WNBA center. "I am so happy."

So are her players. Smiles have quickly replaced the sadness.

"We all love Jen and she loves us," guard Candice Wiggins said. "We got that already, so it should be a smooth transition."

Albeit unusual based on the timing.

The Lynx's season opener is Saturday. Gillom's team will face Chicago at 7 p.m. at Target Center.

Zierden left abruptly after two seasons as Lynx coach for an NBA job. He will be one of Flip Saunders' bench coaches with the Washington Wizards.

The two worked together for five years when Saunders was head coach of the Timberwolves and for one year when Saunders coached the Detroit Pistons. Saunders was hired as the Wizards coach April 14.

About a month later, near the start of Lynx training camp, the Wizards called, asking permission to talk to Zierden.

"It was a difficult decision for me," Zierden said. "I enjoyed my time here with the players. I thank Mr. Taylor [owner Glen Taylor] for the opportunity and I am proud of where the team is at."

The Lynx finished 10-24 his first season, then improved to 16-18 his second.

Griffith said he also has confidence in Gillom: "This is something she has been wanting. We believe she is ready for it."

Gillom was a star center at the University of Mississippi in the mid-1980s, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team in the 1988 Olympics and a professional player in Europe before the WNBA launched in 1997. She played in the WNBA for seven seasons while in her 30s. Her nickname was Grandmama.

Gillom retired in 2003 and was out of the league for four years before Zierden hired her last season as an assistant coach.

"Very quickly when she was hired, we identified she has a lot of potential as a head coach," Griffith said. "Ever since she started, Don has been working with her. We knew if something did happen, we had a natural transition plan."

Which Taylor put into moton by calling Gillom a few days ago. Anticipating Zierden's departure, Taylor asked a concerned Gillom -- "What, the owner is calling me?" Gillom recalled thinking -- if she wanted be the head coach.

"Jen is ready to be a head coach," Zierden said. "That's why the timing [of this] is not important. At the pro level, it's not the coaching as much as the players that determine success. This is arguably one of the best teams the Lynx have had. Fans will see that."

In two seasons, Zierden almost completely overhauled the Lynx roster. Only Seimone Augustus remains from the 2006 team.