Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko, center, has found a way to connect to his players, including Rhyne Howard, left, and Allisha Gray, and has turned the team into an early-season contender.

No one’s asking whether the Dream are legit. The question is whether they can keep climbing the standings, stay sharp and consistently play a full 40 minutes of basketball.

Decades before coaching the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, Karl Smesko was the head women's basketball coach for the Mastodons in ...

Revere High School graduate Karl Smesko is leaving Florida Gulf Coast University to become the coach of the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. Smesko, 54, heads to the WNBA after 23 seasons as Florida ...

Karl Smesko, the legendary architect who built the FGCU women’s basketball program into a mid-major powerhouse, is leaving the Eagles. The 54-year-old is headed to the WNBA to coach the Atlanta ...

USC reportedly was offering in the $400,000 range. Smesko's FGCU salary is $237,785, second only to men's basketball coach Joe Dooley ($275,000 at the moment) on campus.

Karl Smesko's resignation letter from FGCU women's basketball. Smesko, who submitted the letter on Tuesday, stated he could work until Dec. 1 because his new WNBA position begins Dec. 2.

Karl Smesko's resignation letter from FGCU women's basketball. Smesko, who submitted the letter on Tuesday, stated he could work until Dec. 1 because his new WNBA position begins Dec. 2.

Atlanta Dream Hire Longtime Florida Gulf Coast Coach Karl Smesko to Lead Team The Atlanta Dream managed to do what many other teams have tried over the years. They lured Karl Smesko away from ...

Florida Gulf Coast University program-founding women’s basketball coach Karl Smesko is staying with the Eagles. They might want to give an assist to Smesko’s longtime girlfriend, Elena Ruiz ...

They lured Karl Smesko away from Florida Gulf Coast. Smesko was announced Wednesday as the new head coach of the Dream. He built FGCU into a perennial NCAA Tournament team and went 611-112 ...

The Atlanta Dream managed to do what many other teams have tried over the years. They lured Karl Smesko away from Florida Gulf Coast. Smesko was announced Wednesday as the new head coach of the ...