Jennifer Gillom begins her first season as the head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks.

Gillom spent the 2008 season as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx. In 2009, she was named the interim head coach of the Lynx three days before the start of the season. She compiled a 14-20 record with Minnesota, but lost star forward Seimone Augustus six games into the season.

Not only did she become a WNBA head coach in 2009, but Gillom was also inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame on June 13, 2009, her 45th birthday.

Gillom began her coaching career in 2004 with the girl's basketball team at Xavier College Preparatory, a private high school in Phoenix. During her six years as head coach, Gillom has compiled a 130-25 record (.839 winning percentage).

Gillom, who was one of the first players signed by the WNBA, played seven seasons in the league, six with the Phoenix Mercury and her final season with the Sparks. She led the Mercury to three playoff berths (1997, 1998, 2000), where they advanced to the 1998 WNBA Finals, losing to the Houston Comets.

Gillom retired from the WNBA in 2003 with career averages of 13.4 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Her best season came with the Mercury in 1998, where she closed out the season with career-high averages of 20.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game.

The WNBA’s 2002 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award recipient, Gillom was selected to the 1999 All-Star team and was also named to the 1997 All-WNBA first team and 1998 All-WNBA second team. She was named the 1985 USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year. She collected a total of six gold medals, including the gold at the 1988 Olympics, and one silver medal as a member of USA Basketball.

In college, Gillom played for former Houston Comets coach Van Chancellor at Ole Miss, where she was the 1986 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Female Athlete of the Year. A 1986 Kodak All-American, Gillom earned 1986 NCAA Midwest Regional MVP and 1985 NCAA All-Mideast Regional honors and was a four-time All-SEC first team selection. She led the Lady Rebels in scoring her final three seasons and finished, behind her sister Peggie, as Ole Miss’ all-time second leading scorer (2,186 points). During her four-year career, Gillom helped her teams to a 103-23 record with four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two Sweet Sixteens (1983, 1984) and two trips to the Elite Eight (1985, 1986), and three SEC West titles.

Gillom was named one of Arizona’s top athletes of the 20th century (No. 74). The Gillom’s Sports Center for women’s athletics at Ole Miss is named after her and her sister Peggie.

Gillom also enjoyed a lengthy professional career overseas prior to joining the WNBA, playing for teams in Italy, Greece, Spain and Turkey. Spending most of her time in Italy, Gillom played in Ansona, Messina, Milan and Taranto and was selected to several Italian League All-Star teams.