Christie Sides was promoted to associate head coach on May 18, 2017 after one season as an assistant coach.
Throughout the 2016-2017 season, Sides helped lead Northwestern to its second 20-win season in the last three years. She played an instrumental role in the continued growth and development of No. 5 overall WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey and all-time Big Ten steals leader Ashley Deary.
"She brings a great energy level every day to our program and cares deeply about our student-athletes," head coach Joe McKeown said after Sides' promotion. "Her coaching experience, both in the WNBA and at the college level, is a great asset to our program. She has earned the respect of everyone associated with Wildcat basketball and Northwestern."
"I am honored and excited to be named associate head coach at Northwestern," Sides said after the announcement. "I want to thank Coach McKeown for this great opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career. It is such a privilege to work at this highly respected institution with an incredible group of student athletes."
McKeown announced the addition of Christie Sides to his coaching staff as an assistant on Oct. 6, 2016.
Sides came to NU after serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky for six seasons, alongside Pokey Chatman. Together they helped lead the Sky to their first Eastern Conference Championship and WNBA Finals appearance in 2014.
She has 13 years of coaching experience at the college, international and professional levels.
From 2008-2011, Sides served as an assistant for Spartak Moscow Region in Russia, where she helped Head Coach Pokey Chatman lead Spartak to consecutive FIBA EuroLeague Championships in 2008 and 2009. Sides also served as an assistant on the Slovakian Women's National Team coaching staff in the same period, helping the team qualify for the European Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Slovaks took eighth place in 2009, their highest finish of Sides' tenure.
From 2004-2007, Sides was an assistant on the Louisiana State University staff also under Coach Chatman. She helped guide the Lady Tigers program to three Final Fours and two Southeastern Conference regular season titles in her three seasons with the team.
Prior to LSU, Sides spent the 2003-04 season at Louisiana Tech as an assistant coach. Sides began her coaching career as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Ruston (La.) High School where she served under Ricky Durrett. While at Ruston, Sides helped guide the Lady Bearcats to consecutive state playoff appearances.
Athletically, Sides played her first two collegiate seasons at Ole Miss for Hall of Fame Head Coach Van Chancellor and helped the Rebels to a 34-22 overall record. She then transferred to Louisiana Tech where she finished her playing career for fellow Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore. Sides helped the Lady Techsters to a 61-6 record in two seasons, including a trip to the 1999 Final Four. She holds the career record at Tech for three-point field goal percentage and ranks seventh in three-pointers made and eighth in three pointers attempted.
Sides is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Throughout the 2016-2017 season, Sides helped lead Northwestern to its second 20-win season in the last three years. She played an instrumental role in the continued growth and development of No. 5 overall WNBA draft pick Nia Coffey and all-time Big Ten steals leader Ashley Deary.
"She brings a great energy level every day to our program and cares deeply about our student-athletes," head coach Joe McKeown said after Sides' promotion. "Her coaching experience, both in the WNBA and at the college level, is a great asset to our program. She has earned the respect of everyone associated with Wildcat basketball and Northwestern."
"I am honored and excited to be named associate head coach at Northwestern," Sides said after the announcement. "I want to thank Coach McKeown for this great opportunity to take the next step in my coaching career. It is such a privilege to work at this highly respected institution with an incredible group of student athletes."
McKeown announced the addition of Christie Sides to his coaching staff as an assistant on Oct. 6, 2016.
Sides came to NU after serving as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky for six seasons, alongside Pokey Chatman. Together they helped lead the Sky to their first Eastern Conference Championship and WNBA Finals appearance in 2014.
She has 13 years of coaching experience at the college, international and professional levels.
From 2008-2011, Sides served as an assistant for Spartak Moscow Region in Russia, where she helped Head Coach Pokey Chatman lead Spartak to consecutive FIBA EuroLeague Championships in 2008 and 2009. Sides also served as an assistant on the Slovakian Women's National Team coaching staff in the same period, helping the team qualify for the European Championships in 2009, 2010 and 2011. The Slovaks took eighth place in 2009, their highest finish of Sides' tenure.
From 2004-2007, Sides was an assistant on the Louisiana State University staff also under Coach Chatman. She helped guide the Lady Tigers program to three Final Fours and two Southeastern Conference regular season titles in her three seasons with the team.
Prior to LSU, Sides spent the 2003-04 season at Louisiana Tech as an assistant coach. Sides began her coaching career as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Ruston (La.) High School where she served under Ricky Durrett. While at Ruston, Sides helped guide the Lady Bearcats to consecutive state playoff appearances.
Athletically, Sides played her first two collegiate seasons at Ole Miss for Hall of Fame Head Coach Van Chancellor and helped the Rebels to a 34-22 overall record. She then transferred to Louisiana Tech where she finished her playing career for fellow Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore. Sides helped the Lady Techsters to a 61-6 record in two seasons, including a trip to the 1999 Final Four. She holds the career record at Tech for three-point field goal percentage and ranks seventh in three-pointers made and eighth in three pointers attempted.
Sides is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.