The Brooklyn Nets have made a coaching change, with assistant coach Kevin Ollie being promoted to interim head coach following the firing of Jacque Vaughn. Ollie, who played 13 seasons in the NBA and won a national championship as UConn's coach in 2014, will take over the head-coaching duties starting Thursday against the Toronto Raptors.
The Nets are hoping that Ollie can bring a fresh perspective and re-energize a roster that has struggled in both offensive and defensive efficiency in recent months. Since mid-December, the team has dropped into the bottom 10 in both categories.
Vaughn, who had been the Nets' head coach for two-plus seasons, compiled a regular-season record of 71-68 and went 0-8 in the playoffs. Despite his dismissal, Vaughn expressed gratitude for his time with the organization and thanked everyone involved for their support.
Nets general manager Sean Marks acknowledged the difficulty of the decision to part ways with Vaughn but emphasized that it was made in the best interest of the team's future. Marks praised Vaughn's character and contributions to the organization over the past eight years.
The Nets, who are currently rebuilding their roster around forward Mikal Bridges, have significant salary cap space and draft capital to work with as they look to strengthen the team this summer and beyond.
