The Los Angeles Sparks announced Tuesday that they had parted ways with head coach and general manager Derek Fisher. The team also announced that assistant coach Fred Williams would serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
But who is Williams?
A coach for 40 years, he’s spent the past 25 in the pro ranks. The Inglewood, California, native has been with the Sparks since the 2019 season.
During his tenure in the WNBA, Williams spent three seasons as head coach of the Utah Starzz from 1999-2001.
He was head coach of the Atlanta Dream for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, which included a 2013 WNBA Finals berth, as well as head coach of the Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings for five seasons, which included two playoff berths. While with the latter franchise, he coached Liz Cambage, who is now with the Sparks.
As a WNBA head coach, he has an overall record of 131-153.
In early May, Williams was announced as the next associate head coach of Auburn women’s basketball, joining head coach Johnnie Harris’ staff.
At the time, Fisher said that Williams was planning to stay with the Sparks through at least the All-Star break on July 10. Williams now plans to stay through the rest of the season before joining the Tigers.