PHOENIX -- John Shumate, who coached the WNBA's Phoenix
Mercury to their worst record last year, left the team Friday to
rejoin the NBA's Suns as a college scout.
"I'm leaving the team in a very strong position for the
future," Shumate said. "As much as I enjoy the WNBA's game, it
became clear this offseason that my heart and long-term career
ambitions are in the NBA. With the Suns having some big decisions
in the immediate future, especially in the draft, the timing just
seemed right."
The Suns (18-33) appear destined to miss the playoffs and have a
draft lottery pick. Suns president Bryan Colangelo said Shumate's
expertise was needed at the job he held before accepting the
Mercury position.
"We never really addressed the void left by his departure, and
this is a result of our plan to do so," Colangelo said.
The Mercury were 8-26 in 2003, the franchise's worst record in
its seven-year history.
Shumate, 51, coached for 17 years at Notre Dame, Grand Canyon,
Southern Methodist and the NBA's Toronto Raptors before returning
to the Suns in 1998 as a community relations specialist. He became
a scout in 2001.
Shumate played with Phoenix, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, San
Antonio and Seattle during a seven-year career after the Suns
drafted him in the first round in 1974.
Mercury general manager Seth Sulka said the team would begin
searching for a new head coach immediately.
"We can't say enough about John's contribution to the
Mercury," Sulka said. "We had a well-coached team last season
that played their hearts out every night."