The Connecticut Sun are going global to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Connecticut has hired Belgium women’s national team and Villeneuve d’Ascq head coach Rachid Meziane, the team announced.
Meziane is the fifth new hire in what’s been a league-wide off-season coaching carousel.
“We are thrilled to welcome Rachid as the new head coach of the Connecticut Sun,” said Sun GM Morgan Tuck in a statement. “He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of success that will help elevate our players and team as a whole.
“Rachid’s dedication and commitment to growing women’s basketball, internationally and domestically, brings a unique perspective both on and off the court that aligns with the values and vision of our organization.”
Since 2019, Meziane has led Villeneuve d’Ascq, a top team in France’s Ligue Feminine de Basketball (LFB), and helped them to a runner-up finish in the EuroLeague last year. Villeneuve won the LFB last season with a 19-3 regular season record and a 6-0 post-season record.
In international play, the 44-year-old Meziane helped Belgium to its first gold medal at the 2023 EuroBasket Women tournament, beating Spain 64-58 in the final. Belgium finished fourth at the 2024 Summer Olympics and is ranked sixth in the FIBA women’s world rankings.
The Sun parted ways with head coach Stephanie White after losing in the semifinals to the Minnesota Lynx in the playoffs. They finished last season with a 28-12 record.
“I am honoured to represent a franchise like the Connecticut Sun, a team and organization with a rich history and a passionate fan base,” Meziane said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our talented roster and assembling a dedicated coaching staff, as we continue to build upon the Sun’s legacy and strive for a championship.”