Lindsay Whalen decided not to remain in a management position in Minnesota following her firing as the women’s basketball coach.
According to the release agreement between the university and Whalen, first reported Wednesday by the St. Paul Pioneer Press and obtained by The Associated Press, she received a buyout of $215,000 that was in her contract by termination without cause.
when college announced the change on March 2, sporting director Mark Coyle framed the decision as mutual. «Together, we feel that now is the right time for her to step down,» Coyle said then. «She will continue to be a part of our program.»
MINNESOTA SKYLINE CLOUDY WITH SMOKE FROM CANADIAN WILD FIRES; STREET. PAUL NOW HAS THE WORST AIR QUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
Lindsay Whalen decided not to remain in a management position in Minnesota following her firing as the women’s basketball coach. (FoxNews)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The language of the release agreement referred to it as a firing: «The University determined that it was in the best interest of the University to make a change in the head coaching position.»
Coyle said at the time that the plan was for Whalen to work as a special assistant in fundraising and name, image and likeness opportunities for the Gophers at the same base salary she was scheduled to receive as head coach. Whalen had two years left on his contract. Her base salary was $547,000 in 2022-23.
The Gophers finished 11-19 overall and tied for 12th in the Big Ten with a 4-12 record, their fewest wins in 12 years. A member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for her success as a Minnesota player, with the US Olympic team and in the WNBA, Whalen went 71-76 in five seasons with the Gophers.
Minnesota hired Dawn Plitzuweit away to West Virginia on March 18 to replace Whalen.