When you are the head coach of the most-watched team in women’s basketball history, your private life rarely stays private. For Christie Sides, the former head coach of the Indiana Fever, the arrival of generational talent Caitlin Clark brought an unprecedented level of scrutiny—not just on her play-calling, but on her personal life as well.
If you have been searching “Is Christie Sides married?” or seeing headlines about “married coaches” on the Indiana Fever, you are not alone. There is a specific reason for this confusion.
The direct answer is: No, there is no public record of Christie Sides being married. She has kept her personal life completely out of the spotlight throughout her career.
However, the rumors and search trends are not coming from nowhere. They are actually the result of a mix-up involving her coaching staff. This article will debunk the confusion, explain the “married couple” that actually works for the Fever, and provide a full update on where Christie Sides is today after her departure in October 2024.
The “Married Couple” Confusion: Why People Are Searching This
In the world of online information, wires often get crossed. The sudden spike in interest regarding Christie Sides’ marital status can be traced back to a unique situation involving her assistant coaches.
While Christie Sides is not part of a public marriage, the Indiana Fever coaching staff does feature a married couple—a rarity in professional sports.
Austin Kelly and Karima Christmas-Kelly are the couple in question.
- Karima Christmas-Kelly: A former WNBA champion who played for the Indiana Fever and served as an assistant coach under Christie Sides during the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
- Austin Kelly: Her husband, who was also hired to the Fever staff.
When news outlets reported on the “married coaches on the Indiana Fever bench,” many casual fans skimmed the headlines and assumed it referred to the Head Coach, Christie Sides. In reality, it was her assistants who were balancing a marriage and a professional colleagueship. This mix-up is a classic example of how viral sports news can muddy the waters of personal biographies.
Christie Sides Biography & Early Life
To understand the coach, you have to look past the rumors. Christie Sides is a basketball lifer who has dedicated nearly two decades to the game.
- Born: January 17, 1977
- Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Age: 47 (as of 2024)
Playing Career
Sides was not just a clipboard holder; she was a formidable player. She played collegiate basketball at Ole Miss and later transferred to Louisiana Tech, where she played under the legendary Hall of Fame coach Leon Barmore. Her tenacity on the court helped lead the Lady Techsters to the 1999 NCAA Final Four.
This background as a grit-and-grind guard shaped her defensive-minded coaching philosophy—a style that would eventually clash with the high-octane offense fans wanted to see from the Fever in 2024.
Professional Career: The Indiana Fever Era
Christie Sides was named the head coach of the Indiana Fever in late 2022. At the time, it was viewed as a developmental job. The Fever were a struggling franchise looking for an identity.
Then came the 2024 WNBA Draft.
The Caitlin Clark Effect
When the Fever drafted Caitlin Clark first overall, the job changed overnight. Sides went from coaching a lottery team to managing the most scrutinized athlete in America. Every substitution, timeout, and defensive rotation was analyzed by millions of new fans.
This intense pressure cooker is where the lines between professional critique and personal harassment often blurred. Sides faced daily vitriol on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
If you are a fan watching this unfold, it raises a valid question about mental health in the digital age. Facing thousands of negative comments daily is a heavy burden, leading many to ask: Should I delete social media? For public figures like Sides, disconnecting isn’t always an option, but the toxicity she faced was a stark reminder of the dark side of internet fame.
Why Was Christie Sides Fired? (October 2024 Update)
Despite guiding the Indiana Fever to a 20-20 record and their first playoff appearance since 2016, the organization announced they were parting ways with Christie Sides on October 27, 2024.
Why fire a coach who made the playoffs? The decision came down to coaching fit. While Sides was excellent at building culture and defense, the front office felt the team needed a different offensive architect to maximize Caitlin Clark’s prime.
This scenario highlights a key concept in education and leadership known as learner differences. Just as teachers must adapt to different student needs, coaches must adapt to their roster. As we explore in our guide on What are learner differences?, understanding that a generational “learner” (or player) like Clark requires a specific instructional style is crucial. The Fever management ultimately decided they needed a new voice to unlock that specific potential.
Who is the Coach of the Indiana Fever Now?
Following Sides’ departure, the Fever moved quickly to secure a proven winner.
On November 1, 2024, the Indiana Fever hired Stephanie White as their new head coach.
- Stephanie White is a former Indiana Fever player and coach who previously led the team to the WNBA Finals in 2015.
- She spent the previous two seasons coaching the Connecticut Sun.
- Ironically, Stephanie White also retained the married assistant coaches (The Kellys), keeping that unique dynamic on the bench alive.
Conclusion
So, to settle the debate once and for all: Christie Sides is not publicly married. The stories you may have heard about a husband on the coaching staff refer to her assistants, Austin Kelly and Karima Christmas-Kelly.
Christie Sides leaves Indiana with a winning record in her final season and the credit for steering the ship during the wildest season in WNBA history. While she may no longer be on the sidelines in Indianapolis, her role in launching the Caitlin Clark era remains a permanent part of basketball history.
Stephanie White To Be Next Fever Head Coach, Christie Sides Fired This video is highly relevant as it confirms the firing of Christie Sides and the hiring of Stephanie White, which are key points discussed in the article regarding the coaching changes at the Indiana Fever.
