As confirmed by ESPN and NOLA.com. The Hornets will make a formal announcement at a press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. Central.
Updates will be posted here.
1:16 p.m. Update:
From ESPN's Marc Stein on Twitter:
Our own @ricbucher reports that the Hornets are adding head coach to GM Jeff Bower's duties and bringing in Tim Floyd to be top assistant
1:20 p.m. Update:
Bits and pieces from the Hornets press release:
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have relieved Byron Scott of head coaching duties. Scott will be replaced by General Manager Jeff Bower.
“I want to thank Byron for the hard work he has put in during his time with the Hornets,” said Hornets Owner George Shinn. “I’ve hired Jeff Bower to take over the coaching reign. He knows this team better than anyone, has the respect of the players and in basketball circles, is regarded as one of the best basketball minds in the business. This is our best opportunity to reach our goals this season.”
“Accountability was our theme this past summer,” said Hornets Vice President of Basketball Chad Shinn. “We talked about the fact that everyone on our staff is held to a certain standard of performance and we didn’t feel this was happening at the head coach level. We feel like we still have an opportunity with our nucleus to get to where we want and Jeff is the right guy, right now to move us in that direction from the bench.”
“As we look at our long-term coaching plans, it’s not about who the head coach is, it’s about the role of the head coach to get the team to perform to their capabilities and reaching our potential this season,” said Bower.
In a related move, Tim Floyd has been hired as the top assistant coach.
16 intriguing comments post your own
benreed1088
11/12/09 01:00 PM
http://www.nola.com/hornets/index.ssf/2009/11/new_orleans_hornets_fire_byron.html
Per nola.com Bower HC
#1
benreed1088
11/12/09 01:05 PM
Our own @ricbucher reports that the Hornets are adding head coach to GM Jeff Bower's duties and bringing in Tim Floyd to be top assistant
from marc steins twitter.... TIM FLOYD?
#2
Tony
11/12/09 01:07 PM
Wow, didn't think they'd actually fire him before 20 games were played. Don't know what else to say at this point, guess we're just going to have to wait out the season and see how things work out. TBH, I think the Hornets are out of the PO's this year barring any trades(not a bold prediction but hey). Hell, they haven't even had any serious injuries yet. Here's to hoping NO can get itself back on track cuz CP3 is my favorite player in the league. I'd hate to see him unfairly criticized as one of those players that just isn't a "winner".
#3
LSUhornet17
11/12/09 01:19 PM
The Tim Floyd thing isn't the worst case scenario if Bower is head coach. Floyd has been a head coach before (not a winning one, but whatever). Should provide decent help to Bower, who was an assistant before his move to the office.
#4
YoungFella
11/12/09 01:37 PM
As has been pointed out, the problem is long term. This offseason we will be in the market for a legitimate NBA head coach, and the fact that we're going 9/10ths of this season with Jeff Bower and Tim Floyd does major credibility damage to the New Orleans Hornets organization.
What legitimate head coaching candidate will seriously consider the Hornets for next year? We are the Oakland Raiders of the NBA.
#5
downtowndave78
11/12/09 01:42 PM
Holy @#$% I can't believe it. This took me totally by surprise.
Tim Floyd...what a freaking loser!
#6
mW
11/12/09 01:47 PM
Well, every here kept saying he lost the team, so why not get rid of him? If Bower/Floyd work, no harm done. If they suck, hire someone else. So be it.
www.hornetshype.com #7
LSUhornet17
11/12/09 02:00 PM
I second that mW. I don't care who is calling the shots as long as the players are playing hard. Plus, Floyd wasn't really a too big of a loser when he was here. He was .500 with Mashburn out for most of the year and Baron Davis and David Wesley each missing like 20 games. Took the Heat to 7 games in th playoffs. Bower was an assistant for him that year too, so there's familiarity.
#8
byronscott4
11/12/09 02:00 PM
If the Hornets don't make the playoffs, Bower and Floyd will be gone. This scenario reminds me of what happened with the Timberwolves. The owner made McHale the coach and it was assumed by all that if they didn't do well, he was gone and that's what happened. I'm guessing Shinn will go after an assistant like Laimbeer in MN. I hate to disappoint, but Avery Johnson won't be the next coach.
#9
Caleb462
11/12/09 02:01 PM
YoungFella... um, what? Raiders of the NBA? That's freaking ridiculous.
And I fail to see how Bower/Floyd damages the franchises credibility. I see no reason why major coaching candidates would suddenly decide not to consider NO?
Jeez dude, you are the most negative poster. A change was needed, a change happened... and we'll see what happens. There's still a future here.
neworleansbasketball.blogspot.com #10
420ftJesus
11/12/09 02:10 PM
I'm falling in the `Byron lost these guys' camp. These guys are better than their record (which is against some good teams to boot).
If Byron was going to leave next year, and they weren't going to get the development they wanted, and they weren't going to make a good run at the title, then why not make the change now to get more time to do what it is you want. Maybe some good coach is looking to get out of an organization. Hell, roll the dice, as long as it's a calculated and acceptable risk.
And as long as it's o.k. with Chris.
#11
berlinhornets
11/12/09 02:30 PM
To say it was all Scotts fault wont be right, but I still feel liberated. Could it get any worse than loosing by 20 on a regular base? Lets see whether Bower/Floyd is permanent or they are the interim tandem for the real new head coach.
I guess we'll see more of the rookies now. I'd rather see them still loosing but playing some of the young guns and letting them learn and develop than the other way around.
#12
hio1515
11/12/09 02:56 PM
I fall in to the scott lost them camp as well. I noticed last night after a couple of timeouts CP shaking his head like he couldn't believe what was just said in the huddle.
#13
KozyWorld
11/12/09 06:47 PM
t's a little rushed, I could see 15-20 games into the season but at 3-6?. There's no excuse for that. It's gonna be strange to see Bower's husky ass patrol the sideline for sure. Bringing back Floyd isn't the best decision either. He was head coach during the Bugs last season in the Eastern Conference & had a record of 41-41. He's an better college coach than a NBA coach in my opinion.
Another thing is I felt Bower/Shinn should've given Scott the benefit of the doubt. The Hornets have 5 new guys (including 2 rookies) that they are trying to work into the rotation & it was obivous they were trying to build some chemisty. & it wasn't like their 6 losses came against bad teams, they just lost to squads better than them. So 16-19? A just dismissal, 6-9? Please. If they had any confidence in those players 1-13 they would've pull through.
#14
YoungFella
11/12/09 11:19 PM
@ Caleb: I liked our draft picks and the trade for Okafor. Besides that what has there been to be positive about? This team doesn't try and CP3 has a constant scowl on his face.
I doubt that will change by "promoting" Jess Bower to Head Coach and hiring the most unsuccessful coach in NBA history as our defacto Head Coach.
#15
Twerp
11/13/09 08:57 AM
OK WE have two All Stars who are Captains of this team.
Not only have they played for a common coach besides BS.Who was THat?? An excellent teacher and philosophical coach who we hope instilled some great common basketball basics in his players! Which we know he did, which will be shown by the current regime. Bless Him and may we always remember he made our All Stars today. Give credit where it is due!!!
Let's get back to basics on the floor with a common coaching and player philosophy with each satisfying his explicit role.
#16