The team announced Wednesday that the Magic Johnson-owned Los Angeles Sparks landed former Arkansas Razorback head coach Mike Neighbors for a key role.
Neighbors, who has over 30 years of coaching experience and a 2016 NCAA Final Four appearance, resigned as Arkansas head coach on March 11, 2025, before signing on as an assistant coach on Lynne Roberts’ staff.
Magic Johnson owned Los Angeles Sparks Land Former Arkansas Head Coach Mike Neighbors
Neighbors and longtime player development coach Sed Everett round out Roberts’ coaching staff, joining coaching veterans Nikki Blue and Zak Bunchik.
Adding decades of coaching experience to the Sparks.
The Sparks finalize their coaching staff.
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— Los Angeles Sparks (@LASparks) March 26, 2025
“We’ve been intentional in our hiring, seeking a combination of innovation and experience in all our basketball staff members,” Roberts said in a press release. “With Mike Neighbors, we have achieved both. Mike is extremely experienced, well-respected in the basketball world, and has been successful as a head coach and assistant coach. He is smart, creative, and hardworking, and we can’t wait for him to join us.”
Neighbors started his coaching career at Bentonville High School in Arkansas before working his way up the assistant coaching ranks in college. In 2013, Washington hired him as head coach, and he led the team to three NCAA tournaments, including a 2016 Final Four appearance and a 2017 Sweet 16 appearance.
In 2017, Neighbors left Washington for Arkansas, leading the team to two NCAA tournaments in 2021 and 2022. Following the 2020-21 season, he signed an extension through 2028 before resigning in March.
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“Becoming a part of the Los Angeles Sparks is my childhood dream realized,” Neighbors said in a press release. “During my 31 years as a women’s coach, the growth of the game and the league has been miraculous to experience. My family and I cannot wait to join Raegan, Lynne, and the rest of the organization. We promise you’ll get our best!”
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