Lindsay Whalen introduced as new Gophers women's basketball coach

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - The Coach Lindsay Whalen era has begun.

Whalen made her first appearance as the new University of Minnesota Gophers women's basketball coach Friday afternoon in Williams Arena. It was a happy homecoming for the Minnesota Lynx star.

Whalen says it was a dream come true landing the job. She plans to continue playing for the Lynx while taking on this new role. She says Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve encouraged her to take the coaching job and has played a vital role in shaping the way she views the game of basketball.

"I've had a lot of talks about it through the years and she'll always drop hints, 'Oh when you're a coach, think about doing this. When you're a coach, when you're a coach' - it's been that way three or four years now," said Whalen. "So, she's been slowly dropping these hints and sometimes I think our coaches sometimes they know a little bit ahead of what [their players are] thinking and I think she could see it. I guess I want to take her advice and she's been great in this whole process."

Whalen says she will definitely being taking a lot of notes this summer during her season with the Lynx.

Whalen has a five-year contract with the Gophers.

This past season, the Gophers made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Thursday night, the Lynx drafted senior Carlie Wagner.