Bullets Journal 1996-97 Headlines February 1997 1996-97 Columns 1996-97 Roster 1996-97 Statistics

Wes Unseld Begins His Search For A New Coach

General manager Wes Unseld has announced that the Bullets are beginning their search for a replacement head coach immediately. In the interim, assistant coach Bob Staak has been promoted to interim head coach.

One of the easiest things to do would be to leave Staak as an interim coach (like Jeff van Gundy last season with the New York Knicks) and see if he can do the job. In the off-season, the Bullets can evaluate his success and decide if he's a keeper. That allows the Bullets some added flexibility in hiring some coaches currently under contract (e.g., Larry Brown, Phil Jackson).

Washington Post sports columnist Michael Wilbon likes this approach. That doesn't mean that there aren't extremely qualified candidates available right now for the job. And I think the Bullets want to make a permanent hire now, quite possibly a current NBA assistant coach.

The Bullets have a short list of people they would consider for the job. Rumors have the Bullets first interested in former Bullets assistant (and current Denver Nuggets GM) Bernie Bickerstaff, although sources say Bickerstaff is not interested in returning to coaching. Boston Celtics assistant Dennis Johnson is also reportedly high on the list. The Bullets have also sought permission to speak to Indiana's Gar Heard. Also on the list could be Indiana's Bill Blair, New York's Brendan Malone, and Vancouver's Lionel Hollins.

Some ex-head coaches have also had their names mentioned - Chuck Daly, Don Nelson (as a joke only - wouldn't that be a laugh?!), Bob Hill, Paul Westphal, and Mike Dunleavy. However, these may be outside shots. And this Bullets job is a plum job for a coach to take. That is, if he believes he can whip these sometimes lackadaisical players into a winning unit. And that's the challenge, eh?

wtf 7 February 1997

Despite Starting A New Coaching Era, Same Old Bullets Show Up

Tim Legler and Chris Webber Represent The Bullets At All Star Weekend

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