MEMPHIS, Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Memphis Grizzlies Coach Sidney Lowe resigned Tuesday and Jerry West, president of basketball operations for the only winless franchise left in the NBA, promptly made the surprise announcement that he had hired 69-year-old Hubie Brown to take over the team.
Brown last coached 16 years ago.
"When I called Hubie I said to him, 'Are you sitting down? How would you like to coach again?'" West said in announcing his decision. "There was silence at first, but the thing that impresses me the most is that he sounded like a teenager ready for his first date.
"Hubie is one of the premier basketball minds in the business. Our young, talented players will have the experience of working with the ultimate teacher. We are certainly excited about what he brings to our team."
Terms were not disclosed, but there was a report that Brown received a three-year contract worth $10 million. Brown will be introduced a news conference Wednesday.
Brown, a former coach of the Atlanta Hawks and New York Knicks, has been working as an NBA analyst for Turner Sports since he was fired as Knicks coach during the 1986-87 season.
Known for his passion as a coach, broadcaster and teacher at basketball clinics, Brown won an American Basketball Association title with the Kentucky Colonels and earned NBA Coach of the Year honors with the Atlanta Hawks in 1977.
He led the Hawks to three playoff appearances and a division title in five seasons, compiling a 199-208 overall record from 1976-77 to 1980-81.
In New York, Brown's reputation took a bit of a hit. He was criticized for using Patrick Ewing, a star center in college, at power forward. He also verbally sparred with some players. Brown took the Knicks to the playoffs twice in four full seasons before being fired 16 games into the 1986-87 campaign and was 142-202 overall.
"He (Brown) has had numerous opportunities to come back, numerous opportunities, and didn't," West said. "So I consider us to be incredibly fortunate to get a coach like Hubie Brown."
Brown faces a huge challenge. The Grizzlies have been in the league for seven years and have never won more than 23 games in a season. They have matched their worst start this season at 0-8.
Lowe's resignation came one day after the Grizzlies were beaten by the Golden State Warriors, 108-101, in a game matching perhaps the NBA's worst teams.
Lowe vowed he was going to shake things up for Monday's game and did, starting Gordan Giricek for shooting guard Wesley Person and Lorenzen Wright for center Stromile Swift, who was not with the team due to personal reasons. He also gave extended playing time to rookie guard Mike Batiste and point guard Earl Watson.
But none of it worked as the Grizzlies fell behind by 25 points and were booed off the court by the crowd of 10,112 -- the lowest to attend a Grizzlies game since the franchise relocated to Memphis last year.
That was apparently the final straw for Lowe.
"I just felt it was best for the franchise and for me that I move on," Lowe said. "I don't have any ill feelings and I hope they don't have any towards me."
Lowe has been on shaky ground since West became the team's president of basketball operations last April. The Grizzlies were 23-59 each of the last two seasons under Lowe, but West gave him another opportunity in an effort to maintain some continuity.
However, Lowe was slow to get the Grizzlies into the running game that West preferred and it did not help that Lowe initially looked at Grizzlies' first-round pick Drew Gooden as a potential reserve.
As the losses mounted and attendance dwindled, it was clear that Lowe's days were numbered.
"We appreciate the tremendous effort shown by Sidney during his time spent as our head coach," West said. "He is an incredible person with great class, integrity and outstanding character. I am sure that he will have other opportunities, and I wish him well for the future."
Lowe previously coached the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1992-93 and has an overall record of 79-218.
