Chicago names Overton new GM and head coach

Overton replaces Dave Cowens, who left after the team’s inaugural 2006 season to take a position as assistant coach of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Cowens guided the Sky to a league-worst 5-29 record.

"We talked to a lot of candidates about our coaching job and Bo is the best match for leading the Sky," said team president Margaret Stender. "I am so impressed with his passion for basketball, his understanding of the intricacies of the game and his proven ability to build and motivate the team."

Overton has 20-plus years of coaching experience, including his most recent coaching job, leading the women’s basketball team at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He led the Kangaroos to a 22-47 mark in two-plus seasons, including two Mid-Continent tournament appearances and one title game berth.

"I was born for this job," said Overton. "I love the league, its dedicated and accomplished athletes and this beautiful city of Chicago. I can’t wait to get started."

Overton, who was a starting point guard for Oklahoma (1980-83), led the team in assists his final three seasons and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the 1983 NBA Draft. He also played and coached for Pensacola of the Continental Basketball Association from 1984-85.

"I was thrilled when I learned Bo would be coming to the Sky," said Stacey Dales, Chicago Sky guard. "A strong basketball coach has intellect and ingenuity, a know-how for running productive practices and a confidence for guiding a team in varied game-time situations. A strong basketball player’s coach is someone special, adding an ability to understand personalities and the composition of a season, with a knack for motivating. Bo is a player’s coach with all of these qualities - a perfect choice for our team, our fans, and our evolution as a franchise."