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NBA coaches roundup

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 20, 2001

Wizards hire Collins; Cavs and Pistons dump coaches

WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan and Doug Collins, whose competitive natures clashed while with the Chicago Bulls in the 1980s, are together again with the Wizards.

Their relationship, come September, is still undecided. Will Collins be coaching for Jordan, or will Jordan be playing for Collins?

On Thursday, Jordan was the boss. The Wizards part-owner and president of basketball operations hired Collins, an NBA analyst and former coach of the Bulls and Pistons, as the team's sixth head coach in 25 months.

"Why? Why do you want to do this?" said Collins, anticipating the reaction. "It's easy -- because Michael Jordan called me on the phone and said, "I need you. Can you come help me?' It was easy once he said that."

Collins replaces Leonard Hamilton, a rookie coach hand-picked by Jordan last summer after a successful college career at Miami. Hamilton resigned Wednesday night after the season finale. The Wizards finished 19-63, the third-worst record in the NBA, and set a franchise record for season losses.

"I was looking to try and experiment and go the college ranks. Obviously that did not work," Jordan said of Hamilton. "We kind of put him behind the 8-ball."

Of Collins, Jordan said: "I think his coaching ability is desperately something we need to educate the young talent we have."

PISTONS FIRE IRVINE: Detroit is looking for its sixth coach in nine years.

Team president Joe Dumars fired George Irvine as the Pistons continue to search for ways to return to their glory years, which included titles in 1989-90.

"Besides liking George as a person, that's part of the reason that made this a very tough decision," Dumars said. "I really want to bring stability to the coaching situation here. It's been somewhat of a carousel here the last several years. I certainly didn't want to come in and add to the carousel."

Not much was expected from Detroit (32-50) this season after Grant Hill left for the Orlando Magic and the franchise decided to clear salary-cap space for the 2001-02 season.

"I'm a little surprised, and I'm certainly disappointed," Irvine said. "But it's their choice. There's no better owner in the league than Mr. (William) Davidson. And Joe's going to be a great GM. I disagree with the decision, but that doesn't change my respect for them."

CAVS OUST WITTMAN: Cleveland fired coach Randy Wittman, hours after he completed his second season with another loss.

"As much as I am concerned about the number of games we lost, I was more concerned about how we lost them," general manager Jim Paxson said.

Wittman's teams lost 102 games in two dismal seasons.

"Fair or not fair, coaches are expected to win games," said Paxson, who conceded that Wittman was hampered by injuries to key players.

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