Coach Donovan has an assistant. (Phew!)

New York Liberty president and general manager Carol Blazejowski announced today that Laurie Byrd has been named interim assistant coach for the remainder of the season. As per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Byrd will assist interim head coach Anne Donovan in player development, game preparation and scouting, in addition to planning practices and individual player workouts.

The Flint, MI native was an assistant coach with the Detroit Shock for three seasons (2003-2005), which included the 2003 WNBA Championship title. In 2007, she joined the Houston Comets as the director of player personnel and was promoted to assistant coach the next season. Byrd first entered the coaching ranks at the University of Detroit as an assistant for three seasons (1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02).

FWIW, Jayda says coaches will only have one assistant next year. YIKES!