DiLeo won't return as coach
Ed Stefanski and Tony DiLeo are meeting to discuss, among other things, DiLeo's future with the 76ers' organization.
DiLeo won't return as coach
UPDATED: Tony DiLeo will not return as Sixers coach and he will return to the front office as senior vice president/assistant general manager the team announced today after a meeting between DiLeo and 76ers president/general manager Ed Stefanski.
“Tony and I had a meeting scheduled for this afternoon, during which time he informed me of his decision that he would not return as head coach next season,” Stefanski said in a statement. “I want to thank Tony for the commendable job he did this season under some unique and difficult circumstances, including leading us to the playoffs.”
DiLeo was named coach on Dec. 13 and he led the Sixers to a 32-27 (.542) record and the No. 6 seed in the playoffs. The Sixers weer eliminated in six games by Orlando.
From earlier:
Stefanski and DiLeo had agreed after the Sixers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs by the Orlando Magic to allow for a week or so of a cooling-down period before they opened discussions about the future. A source familiar with the situation indicated that Stefanski and DiLeo might not reach specific decisions today, but might rather meet again in the near future.
The source indicated that the two parties would also spend time today planning for next season, facing such issues as free agency and the draft.
DiLeo was 32-27 as the coaching replacement for the fired Maurice Cheeks, stepping in from his front office position as senior vice-president/assistant general manager. He was not, however, given a separate contract to coach; Stefanski has said that, if DiLeo were not to remain the coach, he would be welcome to resume his front office duties.
Despite various rumors, Stefanski insisted he had made no contact with any potential coaching candidates.
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I don't think Tony wants to coach again. After that last loss, who would?? Yo Ed, hire me. I can do it for cheap. I don't even need 6 figures.... a high-5 is good enough.— XmarksTheSpot- Ih, out, want him or not, we'll know when we know!!!— FireChief
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- Should bring DiLeo back as a scout. Get rid of Dalembert, Green, Williams, Rush and pick between Thad Young and Iguodala - they're the same wing player with 'athleticism.' Sign Andre Miller, and try to lure Van Gundy. Some players claimed Mo Cheeks and DiLeo weren't stern enough for them, well Van Gundy would bring it and then some. Too bad I doubt he'd even want to come here.— robkaos
- The Sixers have to change coaches. This doesn't really involve if Tony DiLeo is a good coach or not. After the game six debacle against Orlando, they are going to have a very difficult job in selling season tickets. Why would anyone throw their hard earned money into tickets for this team? They need to stir up a buzz and Doug Collins or someone with a name would do that. If DiLeo stays, it would be a shock. As far as the roster goes, they are in a ton of trouble. Dalembert and Iggy's contracts make them untradeable. If Miller leaves, they have no point guard and they don't have a decent shooting guard regardless. This is a team in real trouble and is on its way to a 25-30 win season. I see no reason for optimism.— syddan26
- REALLY WHERE DO THIS TEAM GO FROM HERE? I LIKE THAT CHOICE OF JOHNSON OR VAN GUNDY JUST GIVE THEM SOMEONE TO WORK WITH. TURN IT BACK OVER TO PAT CROCE. WELL WHATEVER THEY DO IT HAS TO WORK FAST BECAUSE PHILLY FANS WILL NOT WAIT 5 YEARS FOR A TURN AROUND.— JBA
Yes, We Need Croce back in town.- Comment removed.
- There are so many problems with the Sixers, and it's difficult even to begin the task of sifting through the rubble and rebuilding. Why would an accomplished coach want to come into this situation? Internal turmoil, no point guard, no starting caliber shooting guard, two 3's, an overpaid, oft-injured star power forward who doesn't fit into the current offensive philosophy of the team, and a center who can't play whatsoever, and no money to spend because they gave ALL to an above average small foward who can't shoot. If I were Doug Collins or Avery Johnson, I would pass and wait until Phil Jackson retires.— JustABitOutside
- Stiffanski burned this team big time with the contracts to Willie, Sammy, and Andre. This'll take years to mop up. New coach can't improve a roster with only .500 talent and big untradeable contracts ...— Grazman
- Didn't Van Gundy already turn the 76ers down a few years back?— heaterman
- Ed Snider forced out Croce 10 years ago and the team hasn't had won since. The old man should have moved on but he's a power hungry ego maniac. I wonder where the Sixers would be today if Croce had remained in power. Between the Sixers and Flyers the guy's had like 50 seasons of losing, yet always gets a free pass for winning 35 years ago. And to listen to him talk it's like it was yesterday. Comcast needs to wake up and identify the real problem, ED SNIDER!— ericg610
- Thi team is not a quick fix. In order for this offseason to be considered a success, Ed Stefanski has to find a way to get rid of Sammy, eve if that means an outright release. You can't really add to the roster because they have no cash to spend on an impact player, but would still hope to see a legitimate shooter added to replace Willie Green and another big body to take some of the minutes that Theo and Sammy played. To get the shooter, they might have to trade Thad, wich would be an unfortunate consequence to Stefanski's mstake of signing Iggy. Speights and Jason Smith will need to see more time on the floor play some center. In the draft they need to draft the best available point guard to run this team. Some will suggest to trade up, but we have no ammunition to do that (besides Thad).— JustABitOutside
- didnt billy king sign dalembert to that long term deal it wasnt stefanski but that elton brand deal hasnt shown its effect yet. I would have loved to get byron scott but now hes not available.— scottyb23
- DR Heller..couldn't agree more...wait...what?— rizbik
- Sammy's contract was inherited by Stefanski. Billy King signed him.— billro3
- Grazman - Willie's and Sammy's contracts are courtesy of Billy King.— syddan26
- Avery Johnson is the best choice for this team. We the fans still want to hear what's gonna happen with our point guard situation, in the mean time we still need a coach that drive young players like Avery Johnson can. I'm hoping that Stefanski dont let us down like Billy king. I also think Dileo is good in the office, he still can recognize talent. Coaching is not for him— filly fan
- Again, this team is in a world of trouble and it is going to take a really good break for this to be fixed.— syddan26
- Here's a good one. Bob Knight. Ha!! Bet he'll get their attention. I need somebody to throw a chair at Sam!!— XmarksTheSpot
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- DOUG COLLINS WILL BE THE NEXT SIXERS HEAD COACH!!! STOP HYPING UP AVERY JOHNSON. HE COACHED A VERY GOOD DALLAS TEAM, HE'S NOT THAT GREAT OF A COACH. TRUST ME YOU WANT DOUG COLLINS IN HERE!!! PRONTO!!!— rodney517
They could hire a wheel of Cheese to sit in the head coach's spot and it won't do any good whatsoever. There are only 4-5 true MBA head coaches in this league - whoever gets hired will be out in 2-3 seasons.— dpcoz- Comment removed.
- a new coach isn't going to help this trainwreck of a team, made up of more mismatched parts than frankenstein. the team stinks. the talent is underwhelming and grossly overpaid. nobody is even tradeable. stefanski stuck it to us by bringing down a front office guy who was already on the payroll to coach the motley crew. last time he coached was 20 years ago, a girl's team in germany. guess what, those girls today could probably beat the sixers! di leo took one for the team. it would've been a lackluster ticket selling season if he stayed on. they need a name coach because they're back to where they were under the john lucas era. the team and organization are strictly minor league.— frenval
- Dileo did what he could in a tough spot. He's good at evaluating talent and that's the position for him. Nothing to dislike about him. But we need a better coach though. Have no clue who would be good that's available but whoever it is, please help him by getting rid of Dalembert and some of the other deadwood.— Ballgame
- trade thaddeus young to move up in the draft and take ricky rubio. spend andre miller's money on ben gordon. pay sam dalembert and willie green 85% of their contract to go home. make jay wright an offer he can't refuse.— theannswr6
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.
