VANCOUVER, May 9 -- According to a report Tuesday in the Vancouver Sun, Lionel Hollins, who took over in an interim capacity when Coach Bob Hill was fired, was himself given a pink slip on Monday by the Vancouver Grizzlies. The report said Hollins was notified of his firing by phone by Dick Versace, who the paper said is about to become the team's new president of basketball operations.
Various reports indicate an official announcement about the hiring of Versace, as well as Billy Knight as general manager and Tony Barone as head of player personnel, will be made Wednesday by new team owner Michael Heisley, who previously had indicated he would not make any major moves until his April 11 purchase of the team was finalized.
Fired along with Hollins were assistant coaches Jack Nolan, Lawrence Frank and Jim Boylan.
Over the final 60 games under Hollins, the Grizzlies went 18-42. They were 4-18 when Hill was fired. Their overall record was 22-60. They finished last in the Midwest Division, 33 games behind division-winning Utah, even though their 22 wins set a franchise record.
The fate of current president and general manager Stu Jackson is also expected to be revealed at a news conference Wednesday. He has held both posts since the expansion Grizzlies came into the league in 1995.NEWLN:
