Francis Specker / AP

Joe Bryant, who was an interim coach for the WNBA Los Angeles Sparks for the final five regular-season games last season, was named coach Monday.

updated 6:58 p.m. ET April 18, 2006

LOS ANGELES - Joe Bryant, father of Lakers star Kobe Bryant, was hired as head coach of the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks on Monday.

The elder Bryant joined the Sparks as an assistant coach under Henry Bibby last season. However, Bryant took over for the last five games after Bibby departed by mutual agreement with management.

Los Angeles finished the season 4-1 under Bryant, with late-season surge helping the Sparks earn a playoff berth before they were swept in the first round by eventual champion Sacramento.

“I guess you can say it’s my first official tenure with the Sparks as head coach, so this year is going to be a great opportunity,” Bryant said in a statement. “I’m very excited and a championship is on our mind.”

The Sparks won championships in 2001 and ’02 and made it to the finals in ’03, but have failed to advance past the first round the past two seasons. Los Angeles was plagued by injuries last season, when it finished 17-17.

Bryant played eight years in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets before moving to Italy, where he played in the 1980s. He began his coaching career in 2003 and was most recently the head coach of two ABA teams — the Las Vegas Rattlers and Boston Frenzy.

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