SACRAMENTO, CALIF., July 12, 2009 � Sacramento Monarchs General Manager John Whisenant announced today the team has relieved Jenny Boucek of her head coaching duties. Whisenant will assume the Monarchs head coaching role while still maintaining his responsibilities as the organization�s general manager.

�I want to thank Jenny for her efforts and contributions over the past two-and-a-half years,� said Whisenant. �The team is 3-10 overall; we still have over half the season left and we felt it necessary to make this change. We feel like this is a Playoff-caliber team that can compete and to dig ourselves down any further wouldn�t be prudent.�

Whisenant, currently in his sixth season as the team�s general manager, previously coached the Monarchs for three-plus seasons; taking over mid-way through the 2003 season before stepping down at the conclusion of the 2006 season to focus solely on his duties as general manager. Whisenant advanced the Monarchs to the Western Conference Finals all four seasons, including the WNBA Finals in 2005 and 2006 as well as winning the 2005 WNBA Championship and being named WNBA Coach of the Year. He compiled a 76-42 regular season record and 19-10 postseason record during his prior coaching tenure with the team.

Boucek was named the sixth head coach in franchise history on November 15, 2006. She compiled a 40-41 record in her two-plus years with the team. Boucek finished with records of 19-15 and 18-16, respectively, during the past two seasons. Currently the Monarchs have a 3-10 record.