When Connecticut Sun General Manager Morgan Tuck announced in December 2024, “We are thrilled to welcome Rachid as the new head coach of the Connecticut Sun,” it sent shockwaves across the basketball world. Rachid Meziane had no prior coaching experience in the NBA or WNBA, and he was stepping into the shoes of none other than 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year, Stephanie White. Filling her shoes was never going to be easy.
Needless to say, in this piece, we’re going to dig a little deeper and try to break down exactly what Rachid’s contract with the Connecticut Sun looks like.
Who is the Connecticut Sun’s Head coach, Rachid Meziane?
Rachid Meziane was born on February 10, 1980, in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Before taking over at Villeneuve d’Ascq in 2019, he made his mark at several French clubs like BLMA and Cavigal Nice Basket. It was during these early coaching stints that his talent for nurturing players and building team chemistry started to stand out. Naturally, his talent wasn’t going to go unnoticed.
This led him to a major opportunity with the Belgian Women’s National Team. And that’s where the world took notice of Rachid Meziane, the coach! During his time leading the Belgian national team, Meziane helped make history. In 2023, Belgium clinched its first-ever FIBA EuroBasket Women’s gold medal under his guidance. The team went on a perfect 6-0 run while also taking down powerhouses like France and Spain. But it doesn’t stop here!
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Meziane once again had Belgium punching above their weight. He guided the team to a fourth-place finish. He almost led them to a bronze medal but narrowly missed out against Australia! It was clear that the Belgian national team was set for success in the years to come thanks to their coach. But then Connecticut Sun came calling!
But Rachid wasn’t stepping in empty-handed. He had his own set of credentials. General Manager Morgan Tuck praised his coaching skills and said, “He brings a wealth of experience, passion, and a proven track record of success that will help elevate our players and team as a whole. Rachid’s dedication and commitment to growing women’s basketball, internationally and domestically, brings a unique perspective both on and off the court that aligns with the values and vision of our organization.”
And the secret to his success? Let’s hear it from him. “My philosophy is built on three key pillars. Hard work, because I don’t believe in relying on talent; discipline, discipline in understanding what we are doing, how we carry ourselves, and how we treat each other, and communication, how we talk to each other and learn from others.”
What is His Estimated Salary as a Connecticut Sun Head Coach?
At the moment, no verified news outlet has reported any concrete details about the 45-year-old’s salary with the franchise. But based on what we know from around the league, we can certainly make an educated guess.
According to Front Office Sports, top-tier coaches like Becky Hammon and Nate Tibbetts are earning between $1 million and $1.2 million annually. Meanwhile, seasoned names like Cheryl Reeve and Curt Miller are believed to be earning around $700K. But, for coaches leading newer or less-established teams, the paycheck usually hovers closer to the $500K mark.
Given his decorated international background and the Sun’s clear intent to invest in elite global leadership, it’s reasonable to assume Rachid Meziane is earning somewhere in the ballpark of $600K to $900K annually. This is just our estimate, and we would like to reiterate that official numbers regarding Meziane’s salary have not been released yet. We will make sure to update this section once more information comes to light.
Rachid Meziane’s Contract details
As mentioned above, no reputable site has published any information about Meziane’s contract details, but we can once again make an educated guess. “A championship, that’s my standard of success in general,” said Tuck, who was promoted to GM in November last year. “But I think it’s going to take some time for us to get used to everybody.”
That statement alone hinted at what was about to happen in Connecticut — a full-blown rebuild! And that’s exactly what occurred. After years of consistent playoff success, the franchise hit the reset button. Stephanie White left for Fever along with DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas left for Mercury, while Brionna Jones joined the Atlanta Dream.
A team built from scratch can’t possibly contend for the title from the get-go, and thus, we can assume that Rachid was most likely signed to a multi-year contract to help rebuild the franchise from the ground up. Giving him a one-year contract would make no sense
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