The Phoenix Suns confirmed media reports Monday morning that head coach Jeff Hornacek has been fired.
OFFICIAL: pic.twitter.com/8RMDjyKhpM
— #WeArePHX (@Suns) February 1, 2016
The writing had been on the wall for some time regarding Hornacek’s fate in the Valley of the Sun.
Phoenix (14-35) has lost 19 of its last 21 games; Hornacek went 101-112 in three seasons.
Per the AZ Republic:
Less than two years removed from being the NBA Coach of the Year runner-up to Gregg Popovich, Hornacek was fired upon the team’s early Monday return from an 0-4 road trip. […] The Suns have lost 19 of their past 21 games to be 14-35 (.286), which is tied for the NBA’s fourth-worst record and is on pace to be the franchise’s worst season since the inaugural team went 16-66 (.195).
The Suns will interview assistant coaches today before choosing an interim head coach. Corey Gaines, a former Phoenix Mercury head coach, was promoted from player development assistant to assistant coach before this season. Earl Watson and Nate Bjorkgren, a former D-League head coach, were promoted to front-row assistants on Dec. 28 following the firings of assistant coaches Mike Longabardi and Jerry Sichting.
The Suns were expected to contend for a playoff spot this season but are headed for a sixth consecutive non-playoff season, the longest postseason drought in franchise history. The Suns have lost 14 consecutive road games, tying for the franchise’s second-longest streak, but have been a difficult situation for Hornacek since the offseason, when his contract’s team option year for 2016-17 was not exercised and the Markieff Morris saga began with a trade request following his twin’s trade to Detroit. It only has worsened during the season with season-ending knee surgery for Eric Bledsoe and a groin injury to Brandon Knight to take out the team’s leading scorers and playmakers.
