Eric Thibault

Eric Thibault

Thibault with the Washington Mystics in 2024
Minnesota Lynx
Position	Associate head coach
League	WNBA
Personal information
Born	(1987-08-22) August 22, 1987 (age 37)
Nationality	American
Career information
College	University of Missouri
Coaching career	2010–present
Career history
2010–2012	St. John's (graduate assistant)
2012–2013	VCU Rams (assistant)
2013–2018	Washington Mystics (assistant)
2019–2022	Washington Mystics (associate HC)
2023–2024	Washington Mystics
2025–present	Minnesota Lynx (associate HC)

Eric Thibault (born August 22, 1987) is an American professional basketball coach who is the associate head coach for the Minnesota Lynx of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Thibault previously spent 12 seasons as an assistant coach, associate head coach, and head coach for the Washington Mystics.

College

Thibault attended the University of Missouri for his undergraduate English degree and was a member of the all-male practice squad ^[1] for the Missouri Tiger women's basketball team during his time. After spending three seasons as a practice player, Thibault moved into a graduate assistant role with the Tigers. ^[2]

Following one year as a graduate assistant at Missouri, the coaching staff there was let go and Thibault found another graduate assistant opportunity with Kim Barnes Arico and the St. John's Red Storm women's basketball team. ^[3]

Coaching career

VCU Rams (2012–2013)

Following his years as a graduate assistant, Thibault got his first assistant coaching job with the VCU Rams women's basketball team. ^[4] Thibault only spent one year there before he left to go the WNBA coaching ranks.

Washington Mystics (2013–2024)

Assistant coach and associate head coach

Thibault was named an assistant coach on the Washington Mystics staff in May of 2013. ^[5] Prior to the 2019 season, the Mystics promoted him to Associate head coach, a position that he held until the end of the 2022 season. ^[6]

Head coach

Thibault was promoted to the Mystics head coach position in November of 2022, following the coaching retirement of his father and previous Mystics head coach Mike Thibault. ^{[7] [8]} On October 23, 2024, the Mystics announced that they had mutually agreed to part ways with both Eric and Mike Thibault. ^[9]

Minnesota Lynx (2025–present)

On November 30, 2024, Thibault was announced as the associate head coach of the Minnesota Lynx. ^[10]

Head coaching record

Legend

Regular season	G	Games coached	W	Games won	L	Games lost	W–L %	Win–loss %
Playoffs	PG	Playoff games	PW	Playoff wins	PL	Playoff losses	PW–L %	Playoff win–loss %

Team	Year	G	W	L	W–L%	Finish	PG	PW	PL	PW–L%	Result
WAS	2023	40	19	21	.475	4th in Eastern	2	0	2	.000	Lost in 1st Round
WAS	2024	40	14	26	.350	5th in Eastern	—	—	—	–	Missed Playoffs
Career		80	33	47	.413		2	0	2	.000

Personal life

Thibault's father is Mike Thibault, who had coached in both the NBA and the WNBA between 1980 and 2022. Mike is currently the Washington Mystics General Manager. Eric's sister is Carly Thibault-DuDonis, who is currently the head coach for the Fairfield Stags women's basketball team. ^[11]

Eric is married to his wife, Andreya, with whom he shares a son, Dean, born May 2023. ^[12]

References

1. Stillman, Adam (February 9, 2010). "Male practice squad a plus for Missouri women's basketball team". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
2. Briggs, David. "Thibault a chip off the old block". columbiatribune.com. Columbia Tribune. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
3. Altavilla, John. "Eric Thibault Following In Father's Footsteps". Courant.com. The Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
4. Marc, Allard. "Sun coach's son earns assistant job at VCU". norwichbulletin.com. Norwich Bulletin. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
5. Albert, Lee. "Washington Mystics hire Eric Thibault as assistant coach". swishappeal.com. Swish Appeal. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
6. "ERIC THIBAULT ELEVATED TO ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
7. "MIKE THIBAULT TO RETIRE FROM COACHING". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
8. "Washington Mystics' Eric Thibault to coach; dad Mike Thibault moves to GM". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
9. "Mystics, Mike Thibault and Eric Thibault Agree to Part Ways". mystics.wnba.com. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
10. "Minnesota Lynx Add WNBA Champion Eric Thibault and Four-Time WNBA Champion Lindsay Whalen to Coaching Staff". lynx.wnba.com. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
11. "Carly Thibault-DuDonis Named Head Coach of Fairfield Women's Basketball". Fairfield.edu. Fairfield News. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
12. "Eric Thibault, Head Coach". mystics.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved December 13, 2022.