| Atlanta Dream | |
|---|---|
| Position | Assistant Coach |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 22 Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | University of the South (1993–1997) |
| Coaching career | 1999–present |
| Career history | |
| As a coach: | |
| 1999–2000 | West Virginia Wesleyan (Asst.) |
| 2000–2001 | West Virginia (Asst.) |
| 2001–2012 | Bowling Green (Asst.) |
| 2012–2014 | Indiana (Asst.) |
| 2014–2018 | Texas Tech (Asst.) |
| 2018–2022 | Connecticut Sun (Asst.) |
| 2023–2024 | Dallas Wings (Asst.) |
| 2025–present | Atlanta Dream (Asst.) |
Brandi Poole (born November 22) is an American professionalbasketball coach who is an assistant coach for theAtlanta Dream of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Poole has previously spent time in the WNBA as an assistant coach with theConnecticut Sun andDallas Wings, and as the Director of Basketball Operations with thePortland Fire. She has also served time at the NCAA Division I level withBowling Green,Indiana,Texas Tech, andWest Virginia.
Poole attendedUniversity of the South and was a member of the women's basketball program. As a player, Poole was a three-time all-conference honoree and a three-year co-captain. She still ranks among the school's top 10 in career points and rebounds.[1]
Poole started her career as the Director of Operations for the WNBA'sPortland Fire in 2000.[2]
Following her stint with the Fire, Poole got into the coaching side and spent one year atWest Virginia.
Poole left West Virginia and joinedCurt Miller's staff atBowling Green, where she spent the 2001–2012 seasons there. At BGSU, Poole helped Miller win eight straight MAC regular-season titles, five MAC Tournament Championships, reach five NCAA tournaments, and become the only team in conference history to advance to the Sweet 16. BGSU set a conference record for wins in a season (31), had nine straight seasons with at least 21 wins, including four seasons with 28 or more wins, and had a winning percentage of .737 (258–92).[3]
When Miller left for Indiana University, Poole joined him again as an assistant coach for the Hoosiers.[4] As recruiting coordinator, Poole helped assemble a top-30 class heading into the 2013–14 season. Following Miller's resignation in the Summer of 2014, Poole also left a few months later after not being retained.
Poole was hired in September 2014 byCandi Whitaker and the Texas Tech women's basketball team. Whitaker stated when she hired Poole, "I was impressed with how hard she works, how she builds relationships and how she's represented each program she's been with on and off the court."[5] Poole spent four seasons with the Lady Raiders before she left to become an assistant coach in the WNBA.
Poole reconnected with Miller once again when he hired her on February 20, 2018, to become an assistant coach on his staff inConnecticut.[6] While with the Sun, Poole helped the team advance to the WNBA Finals two times during her tenure (2019, 2022). Connecticut tallied a record of 105 – 53 (.665), including a league-best 26–6 record during the 2021 season. The Sun also won 16 playoff games during her five seasons, tying Seattle for most wins during that span.[7] Following the 2020 season, Poole was re-signed as an assistant coach to a multi-year deal to stay on staff.[8] In the 2021 season with the Sun, Poole served as the acting head coach while Miller had to take a temporary leave to attend to a family matter.[9]
Curt Miller left the Sun's heading coaching position to take a job in Los Angeles, so Poole once again was on the move. This time she found a position with theDallas Wings as an assistant coach onLatricia Trammell's staff.[7][10]
On January 6, 2025, Poole was announced as an assistant coach of theAtlanta Dream under head coachKarl Smesko.[11]