76ers officially name Collins new head coach
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76ers officially name Collins new head coach
It's official. Confirming what Deep Sixer reported last night, 76ers president and general manager Ed Stefanski announced today in a press release that Doug Collins has been named the team's new head coach. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The press conference will be held Monday at noon at the Wachovia Center.
"We are excited to hire a head coach with the level of experience, knowledge and passion for the game that Doug Collins has," said Stefanski. "He has been around basketball his entire life, has experienced success at every step throughout his career and we are confident in his ability to lead our team."
"Doug Collins is a terrific motivator, teacher, and manager," said Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko. "We believe he is the right coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and the one who will lead us back onto the right track."
"The past week has provided us with a series of events that we believe will be a turning point for the Philadelphia 76ers," said Comcast-Spectacor Chairman Ed Snider. "Doug Collins is a coach that can make an immediate impact. He has all the attributes that we are looking for in a new head coach and we are happy to welcome him back into the Sixers family."
Collins, 58, last coached in the NBA with the Washington Wizards in 2002-03. He has an overall record of 332-287 in eight seasons. He currenlty has been serving as an analyst for the NBA on TNT. In eight seasons of coaching, Collins compiled a regular and reached the playoffs five times, highlighted by a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals with Chicago in 1989.
Following a standout career at Illinois State, Collins was selected by the Sixers with the first overall pick in the 1973 NBA Draft. He spent all eight of his seasons with Philadelphia, averaging 17.9 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.25 steals in 415 games played while shooting 50.1% from the floor and 83.3% from the line. For his career, the four-time All-Star had more steals (518) than turnovers (485).
Got Collins in the fold & now they need to get Turner in the fold! Either Iggy or Thad have to go - for a solid big -- maybe sign & trade with Toronto for Bosh?— ChangeISNeeded- I am pumped up about getting the #2 pick in the lottery and signing Collins in the same week. I can't wait for the draft and I hope we keep our pick. These have to be positive developments versus the performance this past season.— CouchKing
- I think Avery Johnson is over-rated. What can he do without all-star players? I mean, yeah the Mavs went downhill some since he left, but Dirk and company were at their peak when he was there. His coaching ability would be proved when he takes a bad team and makes them better. Where Collins is already proven at taking bad teams and making them better. Sam Mitchell? 156 wins 189 losses? I'll take Collins's 332 wins and 287 losses. At least he is above .500 and that's including his stint with the Wizards who were god-awful before and after he left. Just cause someone is a coach of the year one year (and any coach can get lucky one year) doesn't make him a good consistant coach. Also, just cause you coach talent doesn't make you a good coach either. Why is it taking so long for Avery to find another coaching gig if he was so good? I bet he won't be winning too much if he took a team like the Clippers or Nets where a coach like Collins or Larry Brown would turn those teams around. You can knock Larry for his one year in Knick-land, but anyone with sense knows the Knicks are more than a one-year fix. He showed again he can fix a bad team with his job as Bobcats coach. I think the same will be proven with Collins, maybe not a one year fix cause the 76ers need consistancy in the coaching department and a chance to build a stable team and you can't do that changing coaches every year or with Dalembert, Iggy and Brand onboard. We have some nice pieces but the puzzle doesn't fit yet. Trying to force pieces where they don't belong is a 76ers problem in the roster department (practically any department since 2001).— joecooler2u
- saw a report of possible trade with sixewrs giving up the 2nd pick for the 4th and 16th. THis makes sense to me. We get either COusins or fowler as well as another top pick. While Turner is a supposed to be great, isn't he just a rookie version of our true SG, Iguodala?— jeff gross
- Ed Snider, please sell the team to someone who cares about the sport!— younged
- Y'all need to get past Avery Johnson. He won with a great Mavericks team he inherited from Don Nelson, and in fact, the team slowly disintegrated during his three years coaching the Mavs. By the time he was canned, the team was in shambles and they hated playing for him. Avery's a good guy but a micromanaging coach that eventually loses his players. Maybe he's changed... I hope so.— echosmyron
Okay...I'm good with this hiring. Obviously, Snider & Luuko are going to give Stiffanski one more chance. I think Doug will do a very good job. No, he's not black and get over it. 2nd pick in the draft looks like it'll be that 6' 7" Turner. If Ed can package Iggy & Sammy for a big, I believe the Sixers will be a playoff team next season. Holiday & Turner in the backcourt. Young at small and Brand at PF. I think I could buy a ticket.- Surprised and not surprised by the fan reaction. Collins is a fasmous name, yes, but when you look at his coasching career I do not see why anyone would be excited by his coming here to Philly. His success has n=been limited with teams that had fine personnel. This choice is lame and I question the quality of analysis if no one on the DN staff does not write an article saying that this is a questionable hire. for $250, I'll write it.— UncleStosh
tacklinjoe, I was thinking about Maurice Cheeks as well. don't think he got a fair shake w/ Stefanski the 1st time around. but, I do like the Collins hiring. he's a Philly guy who won't deal w/ any BS...on another topic, I know Kate basically said there's not a snowballs chance in hell that the 76ers draft Cousins, but if he is truly the one potential superstar in this draft, then wouldn't a guy like Collins, and a city like Philly, be an ideal situation to straighten this young buck out. just my 2 cents...agree though that Turner is the safe bet. can't have enough character guys who are willing to play the game the right way.— bboybeballin- So, the guy hasn't coached since 2003 right? You have 2 guys in Avery Johnson who was nothing but a winner and Sam Mitchell who was coach of the year 3 years ago. So we are getting what? A guy that has not coached for 7 years? Anyone remember that the Lightning hired Barry Melrose from the TV studio after a number of years and what happened to the Lightning?— Kumaryu
- I only wish those three phonies, Stefanski, Luukko, and Snider had some of the qualities that they say Collins has. Stefaniski is over the top though in talking about Collins being in basketball his entire life, like he was there. He ought to take those rose colored glasses off that he is wearing. I hope Collins has what it takes to tell them like it is. He only has to tell them that is why he is in the Hall of Fame and they are not when justifying what he needs to fix this mess!— dross
- Does anyone know if Doug Collins runs an offensive scheme that includes real plays, not just isolations?— rruffin
- Nobody reads posts where words are capitalized.— prudential2
Great news -- new hope with Collins and Turner!— Leegles- This is a good choice— starbird
Comment removed.- Still think Mo Cheeks was the best available coach for the Sixers. Those even better than Mo -- Doc Rivers, Greg Popovich -- aren't there to hire.— tacklinjoe
- ok!doug is on board!great pick!now,comcast spectacor chief's,do the next big thing! FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW!WHY IS HE STILL THERE??FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW!IT WAS A NO BRAINER BRINGING HIM HERE(COLLINS),HE'S A (IN DOUG'S WORDS.A'HOMER') WHO REMEMBER HIM), A FAN FAVORITE.NOW, DOUG, PLEASE PICK YOUR OWN ASST.COACHES!MAYBE, LEAVE ARRON THERE!BUT BACK TO THE MAIN COURSE...FITE STIFFANSKI NOW PLEASE!!FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW! FIRE STIFFANSKI NOW!DUMP DALLYBUM,AND BRAND...TRADE OFF IGGY,AND WHATEVER STIFFS,KAPONO..ITS TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE AND REBUILD THIS TITANIC TEAM! GOT COACH COLLINS IN THE FOLD,NOW........REWARD US FANS BY FIRING THE STIFF......!!— t_darb_56
- Time to shake things up, trade A.I. and Delembert and if possible Brand too. We need to rebuild, not hold on to our old, over-payed players.— NBAdraftRoom.com
- I am excited with the Doug Collins choice. He will command respect and finally some more media focus will go the Sixer's news conference! Now, we just need to draft well (Evan Turner!) and play well. This is a turning point and I am excited.— Philly19131
Hopefully Collins can right this ship. But I still can't fathom why Stefanski is employed here.— jpk- Comment removed.
Pretty solid choice...now please select Evan Turner with the second draft pick
John Mitchell is in his second year covering the 76ers for the Inquirer after joining the paper in November 2011. He covered the Washington Wizards for the Washington Times from 1998 to 2008. He's also worked at the Philadelphia Tribune, the Wilmington News Journal, Courier-Post, Trenton Times and Elmira Star-Gazette.Born and raised in West Philadelphia - not too far from Will Smith - he graduated from Overbrook High School the same year the 76ers won their last championship. He's a proud graduate of Howard University and the proud father of two sons, Jared and Jordan.
ABOUT MARC NARDUCCI
Marc Narducci has served in a variety of roles with the Inquirer since beginning in 1983. He has covered the 76ers as a backup and a beat writer. In addition, Narducci has covered everything from the Super Bowl to the World Series and a lot in between. Narducci also has a true passion for South Jersey scholastic sports, which he has covered for many years.
