Doug Collins gets contract extension
The Sixers just announced that head coach Doug Collins agreed to a one-year extension with the team, meaning he will be there for this and next season.
Doug Collins gets contract extension
Bob Cooney
There has never been much doubt about how much the new ownership of the 76ers is enamored with head coach Doug Collins. Monday at the team's practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, managing owner Josh Harris announced that coach Doug Collins had agreed to a one-year extension on his contract, which was to expire after this season.
"We have Doug for at least two years contractually but hopefully a lot longer than that," said Harris. "Obviously from my point of view and the team's point of view we feel very lucky to have a world class coach like Doug running our team. When you look at the improvement of the Sixers from where he started we've had a lot of success. Like I've said in the past we want to have a world-class organization up and down and it starts with coach Collins. He really delivered for the team, puts his all into the team. I couldn't think of a better leader for our team on and off the court."
In his two seasons at the helm Collins has compiled a 76-72 record, making it to the first round of the playoffs in his first season and taking the team to Game 7 in the conference semifinals last year before falling to the Boston Celtics.
"Josh and I do connect," said Collins. "He allows me to give him my thoughts on things and he sifts through it. I enjoy being with him. I just see what he wants from this organization. He wants to win, he wants to win a championship.
"Philadelphia is incredibly important to me, it's where I started (as a player) in 1973. I've always been a Sixer for life, that's the way I want it to be. I've always told Josh I'll coach this team with my heart and soul as long as he wants me to do that and then somewhere down the road I hope to be able to join in a different capacity. For me it's sort of a circle of life. We're the Sixers. This is a proud organization. Somewhere along the line we've lost that swagger. I know the Celtics and the Lakers have won more championships but this is one of the proudest organizations in the NBA. These fans are tremendous. We wanted to be relevant and at some point we want to be champions."
Like Cooney says, "no surprise here". As many fans know, DC will coach pretty much as long as he wants to, and already has alot of power in organizational moves. While I'm getting ready to hear the mountains of quotes DC will ply onto the fanbase as Camp starts tomorrow, we've been fed an interesting one here in this contract extension PC...DC expects to go full circle with the organization...player,coach, what's next?...GM,President, or should Malik Rose be looking for another medium in a few years?...I'm thinking being around his grandkids keeps a strong basketball mind in Philly for quite some time.— bearsfriend- Doug Collins poured his soul out on the court with this team as a player. He came here in a tough situation and is making good progress. Doug, best of success for the season and thanks for your always honorable and all-out effort.— Bob1
- Thanks management for making a wise decision.And thank you Dough for sticking around because we need you.— Andrew Grier
- I am sorry but what has Doug Collins done in his coaching career to warrant an extension? His record is around .500, he has never coached a team that made it past the conference finals. His team this past year finished in 8th place, 8th place. Please do not forget that. They would have been crushed by the Bulls had Rose not gotten hurt. He has a great basketball mind and he has a history of turning teams around but it seems, at least looking at his track record, that his players seem to tune him out after a couple years. I hope that is not the case here thought...— observer01
- DC.......life time contract!!!!! A Philly Guy!!!— PhillyTerm
- Excellent decision by management. Love me sum DC!— dudega
- Even I cant say anything negative about that statement Collins made. I hope he is really sincere about getting us a title more than him getting himself nation wide esteem and recognition for being the reason. Because even if he does it through a star or stars on the team he will still get the credit.. I just hope he can focus on the winning part and not who is getting the most credit. Just win Doug..— Zeru
- @Observer... Doug's remedy for the non burn out is going to have to be player turnover. Or better yet.. not burn out his players and allow them to actually grow. Its good that Kwame Brown is on the team because he can always remind himself of what the old has accomplished versus the version of him he seems to be trying to let unfold. This season will be very interesting. Not just the team wins or loses but the rotations themselves almost promise to pack drama.. lol Doug Collins if not eccentric is a very entertaining guy regardless— Zeru
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.
