Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons have cut the cord with Stan Van Gundy, and now the search begins for the next Head Coach of the Pistons.
Here are five candidates that could possibly fit here in Detroit.
Jerry Stackhouse– His name has been coming up a lot lately in NBA circles, as a possible head coaching fix for multiple teams. Stackhouse has been the head coach of the Raptors 905, Toronto’s G League Affiliate, the past 2 seasons now. He has made back to back finals appearances in the G League and has won one title. It is also known that the players love playing for him. Stackhouse is determined to make his way to the NBA and land a head coaching job. With his history here in Detroit, I could see this being a good hire not only for the Pistons, but for Stackhouse himself. Familiarity would only help with the transition into the head coaching ranks for Mr. Stackhouse.
(Photo: AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Jay Larranaga– Jay’s father, Jim Larranaga, has been a head basketball coach at the Division 1 level for decades, and he is currently leading the way for the University of Miami Hurricanes. Jay has had opportunities to be a head coach at the Division 1 level, but he has decided to stick around the NBA. He has been with the Boston Celtics, as an assistant coach, since 2012. His name is being thrown around in talks for multiple vacancies around the league. While only 43, he has had many years experience in the NBA, the NBA Developmental League (now the G League), as well as in Europe. Detroit needs to pick up the phone and set up an interview with Larranaga.
Mark Jackson– This is the name that is heard most often when it comes to conversations about current coaching vacancies in the NBA, and it makes sense. He has been successful in the league as a head coach, and he wants to coach again. Jackson had success in Golden State when he was their head coach and is one of the more popular names right now among fans of the Detroit Pistons. From 2011-2014 he was the head man for the Golden State Warriors and he finished with an overall record of 121-109. His win total went up every year in Golden State and he was fired after a 51-31 season. A proven winner in the league not only as a coach but as a player, expect Jackson to get an interview in Detroit.
(Photo: The Associated Press)
James Borrego– Currently an assistant in San Antonio, and has been associated with the league since 2003, when he started with the Spurs as an assistant video coordinator. He has been praised by Head Coach Gregg Popovich for his knowledge and passion for the game. Borrego has also been an assistant coach for the New Orleans Hornets (2010-2012) and the Orlando Magic (2012-2015). He did have a short run in his last season with the Magic as the interim head coach, where he oversaw the sidelines for 30 total games. He has been around the NBA long enough to see how the league is ever-changing, and he is currently being interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies.
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Mike Budenholzer– Another Gregg Popovich disciple, who Budenholzer was an assistant under from 1996-2013. He has had success recently as a head coach in the league with the Atlanta Hawks from 2013-2018. Budenholzer won the Coach of the Year award for his work in the 2014-2015 season when the Hawks won 60 games. Budenholzer and the Hawks parted ways in April 2018. He is being looked at as a front-runner for most head coaching jobs now in the league, and the Pistons would be smart to push hard for him. To be able to land a coach who has been in the league for over 20 years, and has been successful for most of his years, shows that he is a winner, and he knows what it takes to push a team in the right direction.
No matter what, Tom Gores has to make the right hire, and right this Piston ship.
