Source: Sixers begin talks with Collins
The 76ers have started negotiations today with Doug Collins in hopes of making him the team’s next head coach, a league source told the Daily News.
Source: Sixers begin talks with Collins
Bob Cooney
The 76ers have started negotiations today with Doug Collins in hopes of making him the team’s next head coach, a league source told the Daily News.
Collins hasn’t coached in the NBA since 2003 and since has been an NBA analyst for TNT. He is currently working the Western Conference finals between the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers for the network.
During his eight seasons as coach with the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, the 58-year-old Collins compiled a 332-287 record. A four-time All-Star as a player, Collins was selected with the first overall pick by the Sixers in 1973 and played all eight of his injury-plagued NBA career in Philadelphia.
On Tuesday at the NBA Draft Lottery in Secaucus, N.J., president and general manager Ed Stefanski said that there could be a second round of interviews among the top three candidates – Collins, Avery Johnson and Sam Mitchell. “If there’s a second round (of interviews), it will be quicker, it will be in a timely fashion,” Stefanski said.
He then said: “There are two options: Bring some people back for a second interview or just go towards the candidate we feel most comfortable with.”
It appears they have chosen the latter. Stefanski met with chairman Ed Snider and chief operating officer Peter Luukko today and the decision was made to start the negotiations with Collins.
Stefanski will spend tomorrow and Friday in Chicago for the NBA Draft Combine.
Comments (47)
Avery Johnson would have been a better pick. Collins can't get control of these knuckleheads. You need someone younger to get in these guys faces.— jockojohnson- If Doug had sense at all...he would turn and run.— PhillyInVa
Comment removed.- I first started watching the Sixers as a kid when Doug Collins was our star 2 guard. I would love for him to come back to the Sixers. I wish one day the Sixers and Julius Erving would make up and have a place in this organization for him, as well as Bobby Jones.— Wise_Owl
- Comment removed.
- mistake mistake mistake....— PhillyPhilly
- what has doug collins ever done? Bad choice. Bring in Avery Johnson.— ArtieLange
- I appreciate the decisiveness. Sign a coach and lets get going on reshaping the roster.— CouchKing
- My vote would be for another formaer player, "coach" Chocolate Thunder.— Jake711
- I think they're already itching for another lottery pick next year.— brianveitz
- If there's even a remote possibility Avery Johnson won't go to New Orleans, I'd put the full-court press on him. Collins burned out in Detroit and Washington
- Should have been Avery Johnson (194-70 record w/ a finals appearance) over Doug Collins (332-287 w/ 15-23 playoff record). Stefanski will regret this when they're both fired 2 years from now.— dmanns
- Hire Collins, draft the kid from Ohio St, then maybe trade Dummybert, Lou Will for the Pf from Utah.— Ruiz the Great
- Doug Collins will become the Matt Millen of the NBA.— Leron
- Good move here. Should have been the choice last spring instead of that brace-faced moron they brought in. Doug Collins is sharp as a tack, has a true passion for the game and a Philly pedigree. He will succeed here.— wondo40
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- I cannot believe NO ONE is talking about Tom Thibodeau. He's known for defense but also knows offense, he knows what it takes to be a champion in this league, and he's not afraid to get in a guy's face. Stefanski is letting media pressure get to him and is jumping the gun on Collins. Why is the idea of a raw, high energy, championship coach not being discussed more amongst Sixers fans?— CT6ersfan
- If it's Coach Collins for the next 3-5 years I'll be happy with that. By all accounts he has one of the shrewdest basketball minds available and Sixers' management seems inclined toward signing a big name. Add his Sixers roots into the mix and I believe he's a perfect fit. And bring back Steve Mix too. The broadcast team hasn't been the same without him.— Rick Wise Guy
I think Collins will teach more as oppose to just coach. Collins has been in big games as coach and player. I think his style fits in with this roster.- Avery Johnson lost his players because of his micromanaging. Anybody know why he hasn't been hired by a better team with more talent yet? There's almost half a dozen teams out there without a coach and twice as many in the last few years. And his voice is annoying!— CallerNo9
Look...I'm one of the most vocal Objector's on these boards, however, it appears as though Stiffanski will get at least a chance to hire a new coach and perhaps another season. Doug Collins is not a bad choice. Personally, Laimbeer or Thibodeau would be better, but then again, I'm just some Schmoe posting on a thread. If they hire Collins, I'm willing to sit tight and give the Sixers another season.- I like this choice..collins will be able to teach these kids how to play the right way...I think Avery Johnson would have been ok as well. Holiday and Turner in the backcourt, another high draft next year and a couple of trades and this team has a chance to get back on the right track.— lpjkr
- If 'losing his players' means having a career 74% win percentage, winning coach of the year, making the playoffs every season (and even winning a title as a player) then yeah, i suppose he did lose his players. As for why he hasn't been hired, the same can be said for Doug Collins because broadcasters almost always make more money than coaches. If ESPN was writing your checks, you probably wouldn't be in a hurry to go anywhere else, either
- Why Collins? It's not like he has any great record of accomplishment as a NBA coach. Ed's 4th mistake. 1. signing Brand 2. resigning Iggy and then not trading him to Houston and taking McGrady's contract 3. signing Jordan 4. signing Collins. Oh well, another few years of bad basketball.— jimmymack
- Big mistake.— brio
- Terrible, wait till the playoffs are over.— ConverseB24
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!— combocancer1975- 76ers are crazy for wanting a washed up Collins! Collins was a mediocre coach many, many years ago and now we want him after not having coached in a long time? Wow! What idiots! Avery Johnson is clearly miles ahead of Collins. We should just wait til playoffs are over then pick a younger fresh canidate from a winning team. And we need to draft DeMarcus Cousins with our pick . . . gonna be a great star and we need a center badly!!— phinman007
Oh no, what will Stevie A Smith write about now? We know he's opposed to Collins. Can't wait for the next offering of drivel on this from him....- He couldnt win w Jordan....How the hell is he gonna win w this garbage (except for Evan Turner of course)??????— mjtp03
- The obsession with Avery Johnson is comical. He's had one HC job and took over a 50-win team. I see nothing that suggests that he's the right man for this job.— pgcd3
- Doug Collins should be the GM with Stefanski getting the boot. Avery Johnson should be the coach. He would be the drill instructor that this bunch needs. Collins ain't that type. The two of them can work together to evaluate available talent, even from Europe, get the bodies in here, off load the parts that don't fit for whatever you can get. I am sure that Collins would have off-loaded Iggy for McGrady and pried Eddie House away from the Celtics.— dross
wondo40, after the draft ping pong balls bounce last night, it became logical that the coach should be Doug Collins. johnnyu- Leron (it should really be Moron), Matt Millen was a GM. Collins is a coach. Get the difference?— JBinPA
- wondo40 - brace-faced moron? Perfect. I love it. Post more often. M— Ballgame
- Why so much hate on Collins? This is exactly the guy I was hoping for.— younggunna917
- younggunna, the problem is Collins hasn't had a winning season coaching in the NBA since 1996. We could probably get someone just as suitable at a cheaper price.— CBent1
- What I pay Comca$t for internet and cable, price should be no object. Join "Sixers Fans For Change" on Facebook.— ArtMooney
- Doug is just the coach for this emerging team...johnnyu
Doug Collins is good but how about Avery Johnson or Sam Mitchell. If the Cavs fire Mike Brown, I would look at him as well. Wait to the Finals are over to make the choice on the next head coach and Draft Evan Turner with the 2nd Pick. Do not Trade it— briandawkins20
Everybody get ready for a SLOW happy offense because this coach here knows what he's doing.- Evan Turner has got to be saying, "OH HELL NO!!!!! CAN I GO BACK TO STATE?" And Doug Collins? For real? How many ex-Sixers are we going to hire? Can someone explain to me how this guy is a better choice than Avery Johnson? How long has it been since Collins has coached? And look at their roster--does anyone on this team scare anyone? Collins will have a stroke before 30 games into the season....sigh(we suck, we suck, we suck)— illogicallyyours
- Collins is gonna run the offense around Elton Brand. He will also get bored of coaching, and head back to the television booth.— Leron
- Collins is over the hill with a mediocre track record. Jordan didnt even win anything until Phil Jackson replaced Collins. He might know a lot about basketball but can he coach todays players and achiev success? Avery Johnson would be a MUCH better solution (assuming he would come to the city where coaches come to die)— Four4Four
- not good!!!!!!!!!!— jayel23
- What makes Collins so good for the job? Collins didn't get it done in Detroit, Chicago and Washington constantly butting heads with his players. I don't think he is a good fit, my choice is Laimbeer. Laimbeer, has won championships as a player, coach studied under John Wooden and Chuck Daily he has paid his dues and is worthy of the opportunity versus another retread. Honestly, what is going to make Collins persona any different this time?— MSG71
- from the posts I'm reading I'm thinking most of the posters here have never seen doug collins play. if you had you would have loved him. he was a great shooter who wore out a pair of sneakers every night. he has high expectations and has learned from his previous coaching experiences. he's the next billy C and will lead us to greatness.— notch44
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About this blog
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
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