Sparks Hire Athletes Unlimited Head of Player Development Danielle Viglione as Assistant Coach
LOS ANGELES (March 9, 2023) – Los Angeles Sparks Head Coach Curt Miller announced today the final addition to his 2023 coaching staff, hiring former Sacramento Monarch Danielle Viglione as an assistant coach. She joins current assistant coaches Chris Koclanes, Steve Smith, and Player Development Coach Nola Henry on Coach Miller’s staff.
Viglione was one of the original members of the Sacramento Monarchs, playing in the league’s inaugural season in 1997. Following her season in Sacramento, she went on to play 10 seasons overseas in Israel, Turkey and Italy.
“Danielle is an exciting addition to our coaching staff,” said Sparks Head Coach Curt Miller. “After an outstanding professional playing career, she has become one of the most respected player development and skills coaches in our game. She has a passion for teaching and a servant’s heart working with the players.”
Following her professional career, Viglione started the Sacramento Skills Academy in 2009, which she still operates, helping players at all ages and levels improve their game. Additionally, she has served as the lead clinician for the Nike All Asia camps, where she coached Sparks guard Yang Liwei, Nike All Taiwan camps, Hong Kong semi pro camps and various Nike skills academies. Apart from her partnership with Nike, she has also hosted camps all over the world including in Belgium, Italy, Mexico and Puerto Rico. After serving as a facilitator in 2022 at Athletes Unlimited, she currently oversees player development at AU for the 2023 season, specializing in coaching shooting. Current Sparks players Lexie Brown, Jordin Canada, and Layshia Clarendon are among the 40 plus players participating in AU this season.
“I am honored and excited to join the Los Angeles Sparks organization and their mission for impact and greatness,” said Viglione. “I am grateful for this opportunity to help build something very special with an amazing group of people.”
Following an impressive career at the University of Texas, Viglione ranks fifth on the Longhorns career scoring list after scoring 15.8 points per game over 105 games from 1993-97. The Sacramento native is a two-time California State Player of the Year out of Del Campo High School, scoring 3,089 points in three varsity seasons. Highlights of her high school basketball career include 10 California state scoring records and five national records. Her hall of Fame honors include being inducted into the CIF Hall of Fame in 2014, the Sacramento Hall of Fame in 2015, and the UT Athletics Women’s Hall of Honor in 2019.
ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES SPARKS
Founded in 1996, the Los Angeles Sparks are one of three original franchises in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Sparks have won three WNBA Championships (2001, 2002, 2016), have qualified for the playoffs in 20 of their 26 seasons and remain the only active team in the league to win back-to-back titles. The Los Angeles Sparks are dedicated to ensuring each home game at Crypto.com Arena has a championship level entertainment experience while showcasing the best female athletes from around the world on the court. LA Sparks 2023 season tickets are available here for purchase.