Inside the Phoenix Mercury’s collaborative coaching structure

<p>PHOENIX — A coaching staff can be a hierarchy, or it can be a collaboration. Phoenix Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts chose the latter.&nbsp;</p> <p>Tibbetts may be the face of the operation, but inside Phoenix’s coaching meetings, practices and game-planning sessions, the Mercury operate with a coordinated structure where assistants are encouraged to voice opinions and challenge ideas to help drive decision-making. Each assistant is empowered to take the lead on decisions and independently manage their own responsibilities.</p>