Don Zierden

Who is Don Zierden?

Don Zierden is an assistant basketball coach for the Washington Wizards. From 2007 to 2009, Zierden served as the head coach of the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA.

Zierden, a Minneapolis native, became the Minnesota Lynx's fifth head coach on December 13, 2006, replacing Carolyn Jenkins, who remained on the staff as an assistant. Before taking the Lynx job, Zierden served as an assistant with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons. Zierden was also the head coach for the CBA's Pittsburgh Piranhas in 1994.

In 2007, Zierden's Lynx began the season 0–7, lost 10 straight in July and failed to get into the playoff race. They finished tied with a league worst 10–24 record.

On June 2, 2009, Zierden resigned as head coach of the Lynx. He is recognized as a major influence in the rebuilding of the team. They would go on to win a title in 2011 and lose in the championship game in 2012.

He accepted an assistant coaching job under Flip Saunders in Washington in 2009.

Zierden has two children, a daughter and a son. His son Isaiah plays college basketball for the nationally ranked Creighton Bluejays in Omaha, Nebraska. His daughter is very good in math and science.