Phoenix Suns getting inquiries from college ranks for head coaching job, sources say

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There have been a significant number of inquiries about the vacant Phoenix Suns coaching job including some from the college ranks, sources have informed The Arizona Republic.

The Suns fired Monty Williams on Saturday after losing Game 6 last Thursday to Denver, 125-100, in the Western Conference semifinals at Footprint Center.

Williams was 0-3 in elimination games in his four seasons as head coach with the final two losses coming in embarrassing fashion.

Suns owner Mat Ishbia and former owner Jerry Colangelo interact before Broadcaster Al McCoy is honored for 51 seasons as “Voice of the Suns” during halftime against the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9, 2023, at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

Dallas led by as many as 46 points in blasting the Suns in Game 7 of last year’s West semifinals while Denver built an 81-51 halftime advantage after being up as many as 32 points in last week’s Game 6.

New Suns team owner Mat Ishbia was a walk-on on Michigan State’s 2000 national championship basketball team under head coach Tom Izzo. Ishbia and Izzo are extremely close.

The Suns are in the early stages of the coaching search and are expected to make the hire before the June 22 NBA Draft. Clippers coach Ty Lue, former Raptors coach Nick Nurse, former Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer and Suns associate head coach Kevin Young emerged early as names connected to the position.

More: Will Chris Paul be traded this summer or start next season with the Suns?

Have opinion about current state of the Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at [email protected] or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sources: Suns getting inquiries from college ranks for coaching job

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/phoenix-suns-getting-inquiries-college-181040252.html?src=rss

Author : AZCentral | The Arizona Republic

Publish date : 2023-05-18 18:10:40

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