ATLANTA, November 18, 2008� The Atlanta Dream announced today the hiring of Assistant Coach Carol Ross. Ross brings over 20 years of recruiting and collegiate coaching experience to the Dream, most recently as the head coach of her alma mater, the University of Mississippi.

�I am extremely happy about Carol�s decision to join our staff,� Dream Head Coach & General Manager Marynell Meadors said. �She is a proven winner. She brings a competitive nature to the game and has been successful with many current WNBA players. I look forward to working with her to establish the Atlanta Dream as a powerhouse.�

In Ross, the Dream acquires a coach with a history of turning programs around. Ross spent her first 12 seasons as a head coach with the University of Florida, where she turned the Gators program into a powerhouse in the Southeastern Conference. The winningest coach in University of Florida history (247-121), Ross earned the 1994 SEC Coach of the Year award and was a finalist for the 2001 and 2002 Naismith National Coach of the Year award.

After revitalizing the Florida program, Ross returned to Ole Miss where she led the Rebels to postseason play in each of her four seasons at the helm. Her 2006-07 squad finished with its first 20 win season in over a decade en route to an appearance in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Ross was a four-year starter at Ole Miss (1978-81) under Hall of Fame coach Van Chancellor and was inducted into the school�s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001.

In sixteen seasons as a head coach, Ross has coached in 12 NCAA Tournaments and two WNIT�s. She has posted 20+ win seasons eight times and earned numerous accolades. Ross has also developed some of the WNBA�s best talent, including 2007 Rookie of the Year Armintie Price and Olympian DeLisha Milton-Jones. Other notables she has coached include Merlakia Jones, Muriel Page and Sophia Witherspoon.

Ross and Meadors will be sharing the bench for the first time after years of facing off against each other in the collegiate ranks. Meadors was the coach at Florida State University at the same time Ross was at the University of Florida.

�I�m really looking forward to working with Coach Meadors and the entire Atlanta Dream staff,� Ross said. �I think there is a lot of opportunity for growth and success with this organization. I dream big and that seems to be the slogan and the philosophy of this franchise.�

Ross will join fellow assistant coaches Fred Williams and Sue Panek on Meadors� staff this season. The Dream did not renew the contract of former Assistant Coach Katy Steding.

The Dream was officially announced as the 14th team in the WNBA on October 17, 2007 and wrapped up its inaugural season of play at Philips Arena this past summer. For more information and to purchase season tickets, fans can call (404) 604-2626 or visit www.AtlantaDream.net.