Jeff Metcalfe

azcentral sports

Briann January, Arizona State's longest tenured WNBA player, is returning to ASU as a women's basketball assistant coach.

January, 30, will replace Amanda Levens, recently hired as Nevada head coach. January will play in her ninth WNBA season with the Indiana Fever this summer before joining coach Charli Turner Thorne's staff. She will then decide on whether to continue her playing career in 2018 or beyond.

"I'm not worried about it at all if she wants play however many years," Turner Thorne said. "It's a win-win for all of us. We have coaches who can handle things while Bri is playing."

January is ASU's career leader in assists and free throws percentage, second in steals and ninth in scoring, playing from 2006-09. She was Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2009 and All Pac-10 first team in 2009 when the Sun Devils reached the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight.

The Fever chose January in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2009 WNBA draft. She has been Indiana's starting point guard since 2011, making the WNBA All-Defensive team from 2012-14. The Fever won the WNBA title in 2012 with January averaging 11.5 points and 3.8 assists during the playoffs.

Overall as a pro, January has averaged 8.9 points and 3.6 assists. She was a WNBA All-Star in 2014 and among 25 finalists for the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.

"It's great I get to come back and give back to my alma mater," January said. "I know Charli, her coaching style, how she operates and her beliefs. It gives me some comfort. It's the best of both worlds for me. I still have a tremendous love for the game, but I can also start my (coaching) career and learn the ropes about the college game."

January said she will take her playing career year by year depending largely on her health. "I want to be able to function when I'm older and have some legs after my career."

"We've been talking about this for a few years," Turner Thorne said. "She's always been interested about going into coaching. The timing couldn't be better for us to have this position. I'm so excited about what she is going to bring in terms of competitive spirit, great energy and her basketball IQ."

Levens also played for Turner Thorne and after starting her coaching career elsewhere returned as assistant coach five seasons.

January will help to develop ASU's young guards -- junior Sabrina Haines and sophomores Reili Richardson, Robbi Ryan and Kiara Russell. Sydney Goodson, another guard in ASU's 2016-17 freshman class, is not returning and transferring closer to her home in Texas.

"We have some talented players who want to play professionally," Turner Thorne said. "They will be coached by someone who is doing it, someone close in age who can relate her experiences."

January said she watched ASU's guards this season. "I see their potential. I'm excited to get on the court with them and grow their game even more. I know they can achieve great things. Reili's a great player. She might be able to surpass me with her skill."