EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., April 26 -- The New Jersey Nets fired coach Don Casey Wednesday after a season that included an 11-game losing streak and just 31 victories.
"It was a difficult decision for me to make because Casey has been a friend of mine for more than three decades," Nets principal owner Lewis Katz said.
After making Casey the first of what are expected to be more casualties in the front office, Katz said the team will also search for a director of basketball operations and conduct a full review of the managerial staff, placing general manager John Nash and president Michael Rowe on shaky ground.
The New York Post reported Tuesday that the Nets are seeking Hall of Famer Julius Erving, the most popular player in the franchise's history, to run their basketball operations.
Casey, 62, compiled a 44-68 mark with the Nets. He had been an assistant on John Calipari's staff and took over on March 17, 1999 when Calipari was fired as coach and vice president after the Nets got off to a 3-17 start in the lockout-shortened season.
The players had tuned out Calipari but responded to Casey as they went 13-17 over the final 30 games. The Nets gave Casey a one-year contract with an option entering this season and the expectation of reaching the playoffs.
Casey's efforts were hampered by injuries. Rebounding center Jayson Williams never played a game, guard Kerry Kittles missed 20 games and reserves Sherman Douglas and Evan Eschmeyer sat out huge chunks of the season.
The Nets lost 15 of their first 17 games before recovering to claw back to 15-20. But they never got any closer to .500 and went winless in April for the first time in franchise history.
Casey came under criticism for his team's performance in close games. The Nets were just 7-20 in games decided by four points or less and missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons.
Casey also coached the Los Angeles Clippers for parts of two seasons and compiled a 41-85 mark. His overall coaching record is 85-153. He also has been an assistant with Chicago and Boston and coached collegiately at Temple, guiding the Owls to a 151-94 mark.
The search begins for the franchise's 13th NBA coach, but it has not been determined who will be part of the selection process. Nash and Rowe reportedly will be dismissed and Katz may have to rebuild the entire front office.
