ducks
05-26-2004, 05:15 PM
Shinn expected to decide on coach
Whether owner met with Hill not certain
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
By Jimmy Smith
Having apparently completed interviews with the acknowledged head coaching candidates, Hornets owner George Shinn must now decide which one is right for the job.
Shinn was scheduled to meet with former Hornets assistant Brian Hill in New Orleans on Tuesday, but the team could not confirm that the session took place. Shinn was neither in the Hornets' downtown offices or at the Alario Center training facility. Hill could not be reached for comment. But league sources said now that Shinn has met with Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Mike Fratello and Hill, a decision on the Hornets' next head coach could come soon.
Unlike last year when executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Bass conducted the search to replace Paul Silas, bringing Shinn in on the process only after the first round of interviews had been done, Shinn has been the point man in the search to find a successor to Tim Floyd, who was fired May 7.
Shinn met with Scott during two days at the beginning of last week, then flew to Los Angeles this past weekend to talk with Cooper and Fratello, before returning to New Orleans late Monday night or early Tuesday morning apparently to meet with Hill, sources said.
Scott could not be reached Tuesday, nor could his agent, Brian McInery.
Fratello, whom Shinn is believed to have met with in Los Angeles on Monday, has not returned telephone calls, and neither has his agent, Atlanta-based Lonnie Cooper.
Cooper also represents Hill.
Shinn set out to find a proven NBA head coach. Three of the four he has interviewed have head coaching experience in the league. Only Michael Cooper, head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, has not been an NBA head coach. He also has been unavailable for comment.
Through a spokesman on Monday, Shinn would only say that the interview process was continuing and that when he had come to a decision, the team would make an announcement.
Bass, who is retiring at the end of next month, would not comment on Tuesday.
jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3814. John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3787.
link (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-10/108555481480370.xml)
Whether owner met with Hill not certain
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
By Jimmy Smith
Having apparently completed interviews with the acknowledged head coaching candidates, Hornets owner George Shinn must now decide which one is right for the job.
Shinn was scheduled to meet with former Hornets assistant Brian Hill in New Orleans on Tuesday, but the team could not confirm that the session took place. Shinn was neither in the Hornets' downtown offices or at the Alario Center training facility. Hill could not be reached for comment. But league sources said now that Shinn has met with Byron Scott, Michael Cooper, Mike Fratello and Hill, a decision on the Hornets' next head coach could come soon.
Unlike last year when executive vice president of basketball operations and general manager Bob Bass conducted the search to replace Paul Silas, bringing Shinn in on the process only after the first round of interviews had been done, Shinn has been the point man in the search to find a successor to Tim Floyd, who was fired May 7.
Shinn met with Scott during two days at the beginning of last week, then flew to Los Angeles this past weekend to talk with Cooper and Fratello, before returning to New Orleans late Monday night or early Tuesday morning apparently to meet with Hill, sources said.
Scott could not be reached Tuesday, nor could his agent, Brian McInery.
Fratello, whom Shinn is believed to have met with in Los Angeles on Monday, has not returned telephone calls, and neither has his agent, Atlanta-based Lonnie Cooper.
Cooper also represents Hill.
Shinn set out to find a proven NBA head coach. Three of the four he has interviewed have head coaching experience in the league. Only Michael Cooper, head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, has not been an NBA head coach. He also has been unavailable for comment.
Through a spokesman on Monday, Shinn would only say that the interview process was continuing and that when he had come to a decision, the team would make an announcement.
Bass, who is retiring at the end of next month, would not comment on Tuesday.
jimmy Smith can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3814. John Reid can be reached at [email protected] or (504) 826-3787.
link (http://www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-10/108555481480370.xml)