Tapscott named interim head coach for 1-10 squad
Off to their worst start in 42 years, the Washington Wizards fired coach Eddie Jordan Monday, naming Ed Tapscott as interim head coach.
Jordan, the third-longest-tenured coach in the league and 21 months removed from coaching in the NBA All-Star Game, served five-plus seasons, guiding the Wizards to the playoffs the last four years, and compiling a 197-224 record, including 1-10 this year.
Saturday’s 122-117 loss in New York to a Knicks team that had only seven available players, was the tipping point. It was the third straight time, and sixth this season, that the Wizards lost a game that they led in the fourth period.
“Our 1-10 record is not acceptable and, more importantly, the way we have lost those games is not acceptable,” said Wizards President of Basketball Operations Ernie Grunfeld. “We felt a change needed to be made. We needed to do things a little different.”
Grunfeld reached the decision with owner Abe Pollin.
“This was an extremely difficult decision because I’m personally very fond of Eddie. I will forever be grateful for his dedication and hard work,” said Pollin in a statement. “However, sometimes circumstances force changes. Our team is not performing to my expectations and I felt it was time to make a change. We wish Eddie and his family all the best.”
The Wizards had a spirited up-tempo practice under Tapscott Monday morning at Verizon Center. But afterward the mood was somber when the players spoke about the departure of their former coach.
When asked twice whether he believed Jordan deserved to be fired, affable forward Antawn Jamison reacted angrily, saying, “Next question.”
“We’re 1-10. We’re frustrated. But the players are 1-10,” said Jamison. “The coaching staff did a great job as far as getting us prepared and getting us ready to play games. We just didn’t get the job done.”
Jordan’s firing came two months after the Wizards picked up his option to coach through the 2009-10 season. Jordan, a D.C. native, made more than $3 million per year. He was hindered this year by the loss of injured starters Gilbert Arenas (knee) and Brendan Haywood (wrist). Arenas’ replacement, Antonio Daniels (knee), also has been hampered.
“We’ve been decimated by injuries and that definitely had something to do with the situation coach Jordan was put in to,” said Haywood. “Coach Tapscott is a very good basketball coach with a very good basketball mind. I’m sure he will do well going forward.”
Jordan received the news Monday morning after he and his wife, Charrisse, participated in a Wizards’ Thanksgiving food drive at Verizon Center.
“I didn’t know he was doing the community outreach thing,” said Grunfeld. “There is no right time to do something like this.”
Also fired was Jordan’s trusted assistant head coach Mike O’Koren. His slot was filled by defensive coach Randy Ayers.
Tapscott, serving his second season as Wizards Director of Player Development, is a trusted confidante of Grunfeld’s. The two worked together in the front office of the New York Knicks in the 1990s when the team twice went to the NBA Finals.
Tapscott, a D.C. native and Sidwell Friends graduate, has had only one head coaching job, guiding American University to a 109-117 record from 1982-90. Since then he has been in management. He was the first president and CEO of the Charlotte Bobcats.
“We’re better than 1-10,” said Tapscott. “I want to preach accountability and unity. I really believe we’ve got to get better defensively. Our performance says we’ve got to play with a greater physical presence, guard the rim, guard the lane, be a more physical team. It doesn’t mean I’m gonna turn greyhounds into Clydesdales.”
In contrast to Jordan, who played different rotations each game, and up to 12 players a night, Tapscott will cut the rotation and define roles.
“I’d like to get to eight plus one or nine guys, so we can get some cohesion within that group and some chemistry within that group,” said Tapscott. “That serves as an incentive for practice. You want to be in that group of nine. I want to give them as much certainty as to when they play, how much they will play.
“We’re not talking about totally changing the character of this team. We are simply giving new definitions and refining what we do,” said Tapscott. “We’re going to be very emphatic about what we’re asking for and the level at what we ask for it.”
Grunfeld sounded as if he expects the team to win now.
“He’s an excellent communicator, and excellent motivator and he understands his Xs and Os. I think he’ll do an excellent job,” said Grunfeld. “We have to get this team playing up to its abilities. We have two All-Stars on this team. We have several talented young players and several savvy veterans. We have to get them playing at a higher level.”
From 1-10, there’s only one way to go.
Up next » Warriors at Wizards
»Interim head coach Ed Tapscott looks to end the Wizards’ five-game losing streak tonight against run-and-gun Golden State (5-8), led by F Stephen Jackson (21.9 points per game), G Corey Maggette (17.2 ppg), and NBA rebounding leader, C Andris Biedrins (16.8 ppg, 13.8 rpg).
