TORONTO, June 16 (UPI) -- It appears the Toronto Raptors have a new coach in mind.
The Toronto Sun is reporting that Kevin O'Neill, who has reputation for being a stickler for defense, will be named at some point this week.
He is available because both he and his former boss, Rick Carlisle, were fired by Detroit earlier this month, despite helping lead the Pistons to successive 50-win seasons.
O'Neill has not been an NBA coach. In that capacity in college, he was the bench boss at Northwestern, Marquette and Tennessee.
The newspaper said his biggest advantages are that he is demanding, stresses defense, and will help change the perception that the Raptors are soft.
The paper said O'Neill will be offered $1.8 million over three years. His record as a college coach was 190-197.
He will succeed Lenny Wilkens, the NBA's all-time winningest coach, who was fired after the Raptors went 24-58 this past season.
