Minutes before the Gophers held a press conference to address the alleged “mutual” decision to have Lindsay Whalen step down as head coach of the women’s basketball team, there were two chairs and microphones at a table – one for athletics director Mark Coyle and the other for Whalen. But Whalen’s chair and mic were removed, and Coyle addressed the media alone.
What happened? Why was Whalen suddenly not part of a planned media session?
“My sincere apologies for not being there today as I was overcome with emotion in the elevator on my way to the press conference,” Whalen explained. “I am a human being.”
Close circuit to all local media: I will be “appearing “and “showing up” for a press conference in the near future. My sincere apologies for not being there today as I was overcome with emotion in the elevator on my way to the press conference. I am a human being.
— Lindsay Whalen (@Lindsay_13) March 3, 2023
Also-I’ve shown up every single day while playing at the U, playing for the Lynx, and coaching at the U. Add up the years. Apologies if this hasn’t been enough. I’ll be available when the time is right.
— Lindsay Whalen (@Lindsay_13) March 3, 2023
“Miscommunication on my part,” Coyle claimed when asked about the chair and microphone being removed. “We had talked about it. She’s still having conversations with her staff and I want to be very respectful of those conversations. As I said, it’s been an emotional day for a lot of people and I wanted to make sure she had a chance to have those conversations.”
The way it played out generated more questions than answers, though Coyle repeatedly claimed the decision to go separate ways was “mutually” agreed upon, adding that Whalen is “excited” to work in a role that the university describes as “special assistant to the athletics director.”
Maggie Czinano, a sophomore on the team, tweeted that she is “heartbroken & sick to my stomach” about the Whalen news.
heartbroken & sick to my stomach.
the most genuine person who pushed me to be better everyday. Holds such a special place in my heart.
MY COACH 🤍 https://t.co/jpkb85z5pA— Maggie Czinano (@MaggieCzinano) March 2, 2023
Justin Gaard, the radio play-by-play voice of the Gophers women’s basketball team stated that Whalen “was talking about things for next year as recently as yesterday.”
Related: Ahead of shock departure, Whalen was planning for next season
Coyle provided vague answers about what went down before the decision to move on from Whalen, claiming that he and Whalen have been talking off and on for the past year – dating back to the Final Four in New Orleans last April – and that the decision may have been made weeks ago.
“I go back to our conversation in New Orleans and the conversation we had there and some of the struggles she was going through, and then our conversations throughout the year,” Coyle said, “and then maybe 2, 3, 4 weeks ago she and I sat down and had a long conversation and in those conversations we just felt like now as the right time.”
More to the story will be told when Whalen holds a press conference, which she says will happen in the near future.
