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| | Sunday, May 28 Coach has yet to be named | |||||
| Associated Press WASHINGTON -- Now all Michael Jordan needs is a coach. Jordan, the Washington Wizards president of basketball operations, fulfilled his promise to upgrade the franchise's shoestring front office staff Tuesday by creating three new positions. At the same time, he narrowed the field as he seeks to name a coach by Sunday's NBA draft lottery. Darrell Walker, the interim coach for the last 38 games of the season, was hired as director of player personnel. Golden State assistant Rod Higgins was appointed assistant general manager. Fred Whitfield, a lawyer and marketing expert with Nike, was made assistant for basketball operations and assistant general counsel. All three will take some of the load off general manager Wes Unseld, who for many years has been essentially a one-man management firm handling duties usually delegated among several people at other NBA teams. In addition, Unseld is relinquishing his title as general manager of the WNBA's Washington Mystics, handing the job to Mystics assistant coach Melissa McFerrin. "I believe I've assembled a very astute group of personnel to help me accomplish great things for this basketball franchise," Jordan said. "This group possesses a great deal of NBA experience, energy and enthusiasm." The moves eliminate Walker and Higgins from Jordan's coaching pool. Walker lobbied hard to remain coach, but Jordan made it clear he would seek other candidates once the season was over. The only remaining candidate among those who have been mentioned publicly is Lenny Wilkens, who recently resigned from Atlanta. John Paxson, Jordan's former Chicago Bulls teammate, declined an offer to join the organization, and St. John's university officials have maintained that Red Storm coach Mike Jarvis has not been interviewed by Jordan. Wilkens, the NBA's career leader in coaching victories, indicated last week that Jordan offered him the job, but later clarified his position and said simply that his interview with Jordan had gone well. Higgins, with Golden State for six seasons, was Jordan's first choice to be interim coach when Gar Heard was fired in midseason. But the Warriors wanted compensation, so Jordan hired Walker instead. Higgins' contract with Golden State expired at the end of the season. For the Mystics, replacing McFerrin as assistant coach will be Stephanie Rivera, a former assistant with the Chicago Condors of the American Basketball League. Unseld also announced that Mystics coach Nancy Darsch's contract has been extended through the 2001 season. | ALSO SEE Jarvis talks with Wizards, but deal far from done Unseld steps down as Mystics' GM, names McFerrin Wilkens backs off, says Wizards haven't offered job  | |||||