Indiana Fever fires head coach Marianne Stanley, continuing tumultuous era for franchise

The Indiana Fever announced Wednesday that Marianne Stanley has been fired as the head coach. Assistant coach Carlos Knox will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

According to a release from Pacers Sports and Entertainment, Stanley was in the final year of her contract.

"With this new group of players, it is time for our organization to go in a different direction," Fever interim general manager Lin Dunn said in a statement. "This was a difficult decision, and we wish Marianne the very best in the future."

Tamika Catchings resigned as the team's general manager in February, and was replaced by Dunn on an interim basis. When asked about expectations for the coming season, Dunn said, "I don't want to put any pressure on anybody right now."

"Our goal right now is to get better and to improve. I think if we do the right things in this draft, if core players that are overseas now come back better, then we have a situation where we will improve, and anything's possible," she said. "I don't want to say, ‘We're going to make the playoffs.’ If we get enough improvement, then maybe we will challenge for the playoffs."

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Through the first nine games of the season, the Fever are 2-7. Stanley played a key role in drafting six players in the first round of this year's WNBA Draft, including four of the first 10 picks.

It is another challenge for a franchise that has experienced plenty of them in recent years. The team is 42-123 in the four-plus seasons since Catchings' retirement after the 2016 season.

Prior to that, the team made the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons, made three WNBA Finals trips and won the 2012 title. Since Stanley was hired prior to the 2020 season, the team is 14-49.

“I want to thank the Simon family and the Fever organization for the opportunity to lead this team over the past two and a half years," Stanley said in a statement. "I look forward to the next chapter in my basketball journey, as well as being able to spend more time with my family.”

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It was announced in April that Stanley will be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in September.

Knox was named an assistant on Stanley's staff in December 2021. He played for the Indiana Pacers from 1998-1999 and spent eight seasons playing basketball overseas. He was a player development coach for the Fever from 2014-2016 and has been an assistant coach at Cincinnati, University of North Texas and San Diego State.

Knox played for IUPUI from 1994-1998 and holds numerous program records, including being the program's all-time scoring leader.

Follow IndyStar trending sports reporter Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon and email him story ideas at matthew.vantryon@indystar.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Marianne Stanley fired as Indiana Fever head coach. Who is Carlos Knox