Report: Grizzlies let go of head coach Iavaroni
By NBA.com staff reports
Posted Jan 22 2009 10:33PM
A source tells TNT's David Aldridge that the Memphis Grizzlies have fired head coach Marc Iavaroni. Assistant coach Johnny Davis will take over the team on an interim basis, the source said.
The Grizzlies are currently on a seven-game losing streak with an 11-30 record. They have lost 15 of their last 17 games and in last place in the Southwest Division. Iavaroni's overall record in Memphis was 33-90.
Iavaroni is a 17-year veteran of the NBA as both a player and coach and was hired as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on May 31, 2007. For Iavaroni, this was his first head coaching position in the league.
Prior to joining the Grizzlies Iavaroni spent the previous five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, during which time they made four trips to the NBA Playoffs, including two appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Over the course of the five seasons Iavaroni spent with the Suns, the team compiled an impressive regular season record of 250-160 (.610).
Interim head coach Davis has over 30 years of NBA experience. He was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers for the the 1996-97 campaign (22-60) before joining the Grizzlies as an assistant coach.
Iavaroni's firing makes him the seventh NBA head coach to be fired this season. Reggie Theus, Sam Mitchell, Maurice Cheeks, Eddie Jordan, Randy Wittman and P.J. Carlesimo were also let go by their organizations.
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