Inside The Nets

The Brooklyn Nets dismiss head coach Jacque Vaughn

The Nets have parted ways with Coach Jacque Vaughn halfway into the season.

Peter Sunjic

© David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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After only getting a 21-33 record by the All-Star break, the Nets have dismissed head coach Jacque Vaughn just barely a year into his multi-season extension that would’ve lasted through the 2026/27 season. Despite the positive impact he had on some players, Coach JV was not getting the most out of the lineup, even though it’s a talented roster.

This dismissal also comes a few days after the Nets got blown out by 50 points by the Celtics right before All-Star Weekend. Now, the team moves forward as they look for other options for the head coach position.

Over a large part of three seasons with the team, Vaughn had a win-loss tally of 71-68 (.511).

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward. Jacque has represented this organization with exemplary character and class for the past eight years,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said about dismissing Coach Vaughn from his role with Brooklyn. 

“The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure. We thank Jacque for all he has done for the Nets and the borough of Brooklyn, and wish him, Laura, and their family nothing but the best in the future.”

The reasoning behind the dismissal

The 2023/24 campaign was a puzzling one for Vaughn because his roster struggled with injuries for most of the season. The team is healthy now, but the organization feels he is not the right man for the job anymore. It’s unfortunate timing, but GM Sean Marks and the rest of the front office are ready for another direction.

According to SNY’s Ian Begley and his sources, some people within the Nets organization had concerns that Vaughn would hinder the team’s chances of landing a top talent in trades or free agency. That would’ve been a big deal, considering the Nets want to make a splash since they can’t rely on the NBA Draft until 2028.

Nets’ leading candidate

Like the previous dismissal of Steve Nash, the Nets can promote someone from within the coaching staff. Former NBA veteran Kevin Ollie is on the Nets’ coaching staff as an assistant is the leading candidate. Both Vaughn and the players have raved about Ollie’s impact on the players, which is a good argument for hiring him, at least on an interim basis.

Ollie has the pedigree of being a championship coach with his achievements with the University of Connecticut Huskies. The 51-year-old led the Huskies to a National Championship back in 2014.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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