Pokey Chatman started her coaching career as a student assistant in 1991 while finishing her degree at Louisiana state university. She then became an assistant coach, before becoming the teams head coach in 2004. As a head coach she had an immediate impact leading the team to 3 consecutive NCAA final fours. In 2007 she moved to Russia to coach Spartak Moscow, and in 2010 led them to the Euroleague title. In 2010 she moved back to the USA to coach the Chicago Sky in the WNBA, taking the team into the playoffs for the first time in their history. She then went on to coach the Indiana Fever. She has also coached the Slovakian National team, been an assistant for USA teams and won numerous coach of the year awards., including the Black Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005.