| | Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- Lionel Hollins, an assistant
coach since the Vancouver Grizzlies' inaugural season and interim
head coach for the final 60 games this season, was fired Monday.
New owner Michael Heisley had said he wouldn't make any changes
until he got the long-delayed final approval of his $160 million
purchase from the league.
That is expected Wednesday, when Heisley
is scheduled to hold a news conference in Vancouver to confirm Dick
Versace as new president of basketball operations, Billy Knight as
general manager and Tony Barone as director of player personnel.
However, Versace called Hollins at his Phoenix-area home to
deliver the news that the entire coaching staff, including
assistants Jim Boylan, Jack Nolan and Lawrence Frank, would not be
rehired.
"The thing that bothers me is that Mr. Heisley said we would
get together and talk and that never happened," Hollins said from
his home.
"I do feel like Dick Versace was calling the shots, even though
he said Mr. Heisley wanted him to call, that he wanted to bring in
as many fresh faces as he could."
Hollins, 46, took over from Brian Hill, who was fired after a
4-18 start when players balked at his rigid, uncommunicative style. | |
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