On Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets announced they have named Jacque Vaughn as their head coach, replacing Steve Nash. Vaughn, a Nets assistant since 2016, was named acting head coach after the Nets parted ways with Nash following a 2-5 start. Vaughn, a former college star who spent 12 seasons in the NBA as a player and has coached in the league since 2010, began his coaching career as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich.
Vaughn was previously a Nets interim head coach in 2020 and was head coach for the Orlando Magic for two-plus seasons from 2012-2015. Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement: “Jacque’s basketball acumen, competitiveness and intimate knowledge of our team and organization make him the clear-cut best person to lead our group moving forward. He has a proven ability to get the best out of our players, hold them accountable and play a cohesive, team-first style of basketball.”
The appointment of Vaughn officially ends rumors that the franchise planned to hire suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka. Udoka had been immediately identified as Nash’s likely successor, but that news was met with backlash among media and fans who wondered why the Nets would be so quick to hire a coach who was suspended by the Celtics on Sept. 22 for “violations of team policies.” Reports says that Udoka had an inappropriate relationship with a team staffer.
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