Kori Ellis
12-01-2004, 04:20 PM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1936077
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
To replace the most successful coach in their history, the Memphis Grizzlies are making two hires.
Mike Fratello, as expected, will be installed Thursday as the successor to Hubie Brown ... but with the surprising addition of Eric Musselman as Fratello's top assistant, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
Grizzlies interim coach Lionel Hollins will handle Memphis' game Wednesday night at New York before Fratello and Musselman take over.
Brown resigned on Thanksgiving, citing unspecificied health problems and later saying that he had lost some of the "spirit" he needs to be an effective coach. The 71-year-old earned Coach of the Year honors last season when Memphis went 50-32 -- after never winning more than 28 games in a season -- and reached the playoffs.
Fratello has been a TV analyst with TNT and the Miami Heat since his last head coaching stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fratello spent 13 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, compiling a career record of 592-499, including 20-34 in the playoffs. He coached the Hawks from 1983 to 1990, going 324-253 (including three games in the 1980-81 season) and the Cavs from 1993 to 1999 (248-212). He's a former Brown assistant who also replaced Brown with the Atlanta Hawks.
Musselman was in his first season as an analyst for ESPN Radio after two seasons as the head coach in Golden State, where he posted a record of 75-89.
By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
To replace the most successful coach in their history, the Memphis Grizzlies are making two hires.
Mike Fratello, as expected, will be installed Thursday as the successor to Hubie Brown ... but with the surprising addition of Eric Musselman as Fratello's top assistant, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com on Wednesday.
Grizzlies interim coach Lionel Hollins will handle Memphis' game Wednesday night at New York before Fratello and Musselman take over.
Brown resigned on Thanksgiving, citing unspecificied health problems and later saying that he had lost some of the "spirit" he needs to be an effective coach. The 71-year-old earned Coach of the Year honors last season when Memphis went 50-32 -- after never winning more than 28 games in a season -- and reached the playoffs.
Fratello has been a TV analyst with TNT and the Miami Heat since his last head coaching stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fratello spent 13 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, compiling a career record of 592-499, including 20-34 in the playoffs. He coached the Hawks from 1983 to 1990, going 324-253 (including three games in the 1980-81 season) and the Cavs from 1993 to 1999 (248-212). He's a former Brown assistant who also replaced Brown with the Atlanta Hawks.
Musselman was in his first season as an analyst for ESPN Radio after two seasons as the head coach in Golden State, where he posted a record of 75-89.