NBA News Wire
Grizzlies may pursue Van Gundy
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
The Memphis Grizzlies may make a run at ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy to be their next coach and run their front office, according to ESPN.com.
While Dave Joerger is still the Grizzlies coach, he is expected to take the Minnesota Timberwolves’ job.
It is not clear if Van Gundy wants to take on such a large role. Van Gundy, who coached the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets before going into television, generally does not publicly discuss job openings.
The Grizzlies are in the midst of a shakeup. The team let coach Lionel Hollins go after advancing to the Western Conference finals last year and replaced him with Joerger. Owner Robert Pera ousted CEO Jason Levien assistant general manager Stu Lash last week.
Now it appears Joerger will leave after one season. Assuming he does, Pera has to convince prospective coaching candidates that the job is a stable one. Joerger reportedly met with Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor on Saturday.
Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Alvin Gentry and ESPN analyst George Karl are among the candidates for the Grizzlies’ job if Joerger leaves. Both interviewed for it a year ago.
To land Joerger, the Timberwolves will owe the Grizzlies compensation. The Grizzlies may not ask for much since they reportedly are not interested in retaining him next season. Pera contemplated firing Joerger early in the season when the team got off to a bad start but recovered to finish 50-32. Memphis was ousted in the first round of the playoffs.
Joerger, a Minnesota native, is close to Timberwolves president Flip Saunders.
