MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The Minnesota Lynx today announced the team has hired Walt Hopkins as Assistant Coach and Annie Isler as Video Coordinator.
Hopkins joins Cheryl Reeve’s staff after serving as Academic Coach at the University of California, Berkeley for Cal athletes. He also served as the assistant women’s basketball coach at Utah Valley University from 2013-2014.
Prior to his time at Cal-Berkeley, Hopkins served as the Director of Basketball Operations and Player Development Coach with the Tulsa Shock. During his time with the Shock, he acted as the primary liaison between the league office and the Tulsa front office and coaching staff. He coordinated and oversaw team travel and served as the organization’s video coordinator. Hopkins received his bachelor’s degree at the University of Nevada-Reno, graduating in high distinction in English Writing with a minor in Philosophy. He also holds master’s degrees from both Harvard and UC Berkeley, where his studies focused primarily on applying findings from Social, Developmental, and Educational Psychology to coaching settings.
With the Lynx, Hopkins will assist with on-court preparation, player development and self-scouting.
Isler is entering her second season with the Minnesota Lynx having previously served as Lynx video associate for the 2016 season. Prior to joining the Lynx, Isler served in various collegiate coaching positions at the Division I and Division III levels. Isler was responsible for recruiting, scout preparation, team travel arrangements, leading team managers and the scout team. She also oversaw video needs, and organizing summer camps. Isler is a 2009 graduate of Carleton College.
In her role with the Lynx, Isler will provide video edits on opposing teams and statistical and analytical data on Lynx and opposition play calls. Additionally, she will assist the coaching staff in creating scout game plans for each opponent.