OKC Thunder: 3 coaching candidates with G-League background

Former OKC Blue head coach Mark Daigneault

Of the G-League candidates, one has prior experience in the affiliate league as well as being directly linked to the Thunder. That’s Mark Daigneault who ascended to an associate coaching position on Billy Donovan’s staff this past season.

Daigneault worked his way up the ladder as an assistant coach in the college system. He spent three years at The College of Holy Cross in  Massachusetts and four years with the Florida Gators. Prior to joining the varsity Thunder this year, he coached the OKC Blue the past five seasons.

If Sam Presti wanted a similar mindset to that of Billy Donovan Daigneault has a leg up considering how much of his career has been directly tied to the former Thunder head coach. While Daigneault worked with Donovan in Florida he actually joined the Thunder organization first.

As with most G-League teams, the systems employed are meant to prepare the roster for potential moves up to the varsity team. Between the five years spent as the OKC Blue head coach and the past season as an assistant to Donovan, he has first-hand knowledge of the system, culture, and players.

He’s known for his player development skills, even temperament, and insatiable desire to learn. He may be too young to ascend to the next chair on the sideline and could potentially end up moving to Chicago to rejoin Donovan, but his star is ascending and he’ll be someone to keep an eye on.