Karl Smesko Hired as HC of WNBA's Atlanta Dream; Won 672 Games as Women's CBB Coach

The Atlanta Dream announced Wednesday they hired Karl Smesko as their next head coach.

Smesko spent 18 seasons at Florida Gulf Coast and turned the Eagles into an NCAA tournament mainstay. He coached at Walsh University and Purdue Fort Wayne before FGCU and boasts a 672-139 career record across all three stops.

"Karl is a proven leader with a history of developing his players and creating a winning culture," Dream general manager Dan Padover said. "His fast-paced, innovative style of play will be attractive to our players and fans alike. We are excited to have Karl bring his incredible basketball IQ to the Dream."

Smesko's hiring is likely to address one of Atlanta's bigger issues on the court.

In three years with Tanisha Wright as the head coach, the team never ranked higher than seventh in made threes. FGCU, by contrast, averaged the second-most three-point attempts (30.1) in Division I in 2023-24.

The Eagles had a defined offensive identity, one that was both exciting to watch and highly effective. Smesko will be looking to bring that to the Dream.

Going straight from college to the pros could be an adjustment, though.

Curt Miller, Stephanie White and Nicki Collen, who was on Smesko's staff in 2014-15, all found success in the WNBA after coaching in college. They spent time as assistants in the W before taking a head coaching role, though, which helped them familiarize themselves with the league.

More than anything, hiring the right head coach might also only go so far for the Dream, who lack a true foundational star to help get them over the top. They're still waiting for Rhyne Howard, a two-time All-Star, to make her big breakthrough.

Without a bona fide elite talent on the roster, Atlanta could have a firm ceiling on its ambitions, and finding that kind of piece outside of the organization could be easier said than done.

The top free agents heading into this winter probably won't change teams, and executing a blockbuster trade is complicated by the fact that teams and players are in a holding pattern in anticipation of a new CBA. A total of 30 players are signed for the 2026 season, per Spotrac, and no team has more than five contracts on the books.

For now, maximizing what he has on the roster will be Smesko's top priority. Should the Dream go on to have some success in 2025, it can then help the organization make a compelling sales pitch in what could be a free-agency bonanza in 2026.