Who is Mark Daigneault? All you need to know about him

Who is Mark Daigneault? All you need to know about him

Kevin Omuya
updated at May 15, 2023 at 6:29 PM

Mark Daigneault is a prominent American basketball coach known for his leadership skills, strategic insights, and remarkable coaching career. He is currently the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Daigneault is widely recognised as one of the most promising coaches in the league, with a bright future ahead of him.

Mark Daigneault
Head Coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder looks on during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on December 12, 2022, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Glenn James
Source: Getty Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder is an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City. The Thunder compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Mark was the assistant coach before he was promoted to the club's head coach.

Profile and bio summary

Title

Details

Name

Mark Daigneault

Age

38 years as of 2023

Gender

Male

Date of birth

February 23, 1985

Place of birth

Leominster, Massachusetts, US

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

White

Marital status

Married

Spouse

Ashley Kerr

High school

Campbell High School

College

University of Connecticut, Florida

Occupation

Head coach

Coaching career

2007- present

Club

Oklahoma City Thunder

League

NBA

Teams coached

Florida, Oklahoma City Blue, Oklahoma City Thunders

Net worth

$1 million - $5 million

Social media

Instagram, Twitter

How old is Mark Daigneault?

Mark Daigneault (aged 36 years as of May 2023) was born on 23 February 1985, in Leominster, Massachusetts, US. Daigneault grew up in Litchfield, New Hampshire, and attended high school at Campbell High School. He was an exceptional athlete during his school years, playing basketball and soccer at a high level.

Mark Daigneault’s family

Mark is married to his wife, Asley Kerr, and the couple has two children together. Ashley is a volunteer assistant coach for women's gymnastics at the University of Oklahoma. Mark has often credited his family with the support and inspiration he needs to succeed as a coach.

Did Mark Daigneault play basketball?

Mark Daigneault played basketball in high school and college. He played high school basketball at Holy Name Central Catholic High School in Worcester, Massachusetts. He then played college basketball at the University of Connecticut from 2004 to 2007, where he was a walk-on and practice player for the Huskies.

Mark Daigneault’s coaching history

Mark Daigneault’s coaching history
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault encourages his players during the second half against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on November 14, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Winslow Townson
Source: Getty Images

After college, he began coaching at The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut, where he served as an assistant coach for the basketball team. Daigneault's coaching career grew as he moved to the University of Connecticut, where he worked as a student assistant coach for the men's basketball team. From there, he worked as an assistant coach for the NBA G League's Springfield Armor.

In 2014, Mark Daigneault was hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue, the NBA G League affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Daigneault proved himself a talented coach, leading the Blue to a playoff appearance in his first season as head coach. He continued to build on that success over the following years, guiding the team to multiple playoff appearances.

Mark Daigneault's coaching style

Mark focused on developing players and building a solid team culture. He is known for his attention to detail, ability to communicate effectively with his players, and strategic insights into the game. One of the most impressive aspects of Mark Daigneault's coaching career has been his ability to develop players and help them reach their full potential.

While coaching the Oklahoma City Blue, he played a crucial role in developing several NBA players, including Terrance Ferguson, Hamidou Diallo, and Luguentz Dort. These players have made significant contributions to the Thunder and other NBA teams, and their success is a testament to Daigneault's coaching abilities.

Mark Daigneault's contract

Mark Daigneault's contract
Head Coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder speaks before the game against the Utah Jazz on October 20, 2021, at Smart-Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo: Zach Beeker
Source: Getty Images

Daigneault's coaching success with the Oklahoma City Blue caught the attention of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in November 2020, he was hired as the team's head coach. His contract with the Thunder is for four years, and he is expected to play a vital role in the team's rebuilding process over the coming years.

Mark Daigneault, coach of the year

Mark Daigneault’s coaching history
Head coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder talks during a timeout against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on November 10, 2021, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Jonathan Bachman
Source: Getty Images

In 2019, he was named the NBA G League Coach of the Year for outstanding work with the Oklahoma City Thunder. This award is given to the coach who has significantly impacted their team's success during the G League regular season.

Daigneault led City Blue to a 34-16 record and the top seed in the Western Conference during the 2018-2019 season, earning him the prestigious award. While he has yet to win Coach of the Year in the NBA, his coaching potential and abilities are highly regarded by his peers and colleagues in the league.

Mark Daigneault’s stats

Mark Daigneault’s stats
Coach Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Blue talks to the team against the Grand Rapids Drive on November 21, 2017, at DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids. Photo: Dennis Slagle
Source: Getty Images

Mark Daigneault compiled a record of 46 wins and 108 losses in his coaching career with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He began coaching during the 2020 season. During Daigneault's tenure, the Gators had a record of 120–30, which included three SEC titles and an Elite Eight appearance each year.

Mark Daigneault’s salary

Most NBA head coaches reportedly make $2 to $4 million annually, based on various factors like previous coaching experience. Greg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs is currently the highest-paid head coach, earning $11 million annually.

Mark Daigneault’s net worth

Reports estimate his worth to be between $1 million and $5 million as of May 2023.

Mark Daigneault's achievements and awards

  • In his first season as head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder (2020-2021), he led the team to a 22-50 record, which included a win over the top-seeded Utah Jazz in April 2021.
  • Mark has a reputation as a talented coach focusing on player development. Several players who have played under him in the NBA G League and with the Thunder have had successful careers in the NBA.
  • While coaching the Oklahoma City Blue in the NBA G League, he led the team to a 143-107 record and three playoff appearances in five seasons.
  • He was named the NBA G League Coach of the Year for the 2018-2019 season after leading the Oklahoma City Blue to a 34-16 record and a trip to the Western Conference Finals.
  • Mark has also been recognised for his work as a humanitarian. In 2018, he was named the NBA G League Coach of the Month for February after leading the Blue to a 9-3 record.

Mark Daigneault has won several awards with Oklahoma City Thunder. He has been named coach of the year for guiding the Thunder to various records and a postseason win. He is one of the most prominent achievers in the NBA.

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Authors
Kevin Omuya photo
Kevin Omuya
Kevin Omuya is a Content Writer with 4 years of experience who joined Sports Brief in 2022. In 2019 he held a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University.