Brooklyn Nets appoint Jack Vaughn as new head coach

NEW YORK – The Brooklyn Nets officially appointed Jack Vaughn as head coach on Wednesday.

Vaughn has been serving as an interim coach since replacing former coach Steve Nash on November 1.

“Jack’s basketball acumen, competitiveness, and intimate knowledge of our team and organization make him the clear best person to lead our group forward,” said Nets general manager Sean Marks in a statement. “He has a proven ability to bring out the best in our players, hold them accountable, and play a cohesive style of first-team basketball.”

Vaughn, who served as head coach for 10 regular season games during the 2019-20 season, was in the middle of his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Nets.

“GV is a great coach,” Nets Guard Joe Harris He said before Wednesday’s announcement. Having played in the NBA for a while, he’s been a coach in the league for a while, he has experience as a head coach, he has a lot of experience now as an assistant, he’s seen a lot, he has a lot of different experiences, he’s nice to hone his approach.

“It really simplifies the game, I said when we were in the bubble it’s the same thing, but he makes sure everyone is fully aware of what’s going on. He’s the kind of coach we go through with scouts. [report] There will be a lot of transparency and dialogue. It is not only him who speaks in the hope that everyone will understand him. It’s team stuff where he makes sure everyone is fully aware of what’s going on and they understand what’s going on.”

Vaughn’s promotion comes as a surprise given that many within the league — and some within the organization — thought suspended Boston Celtics coach and former Nets assistant Amy Odoka would take over Nash.

Vaughn previously served as head coach for the Orlando Magic for more than two seasons from 2012 to 2015.

The net 2-2 since Vaughn moved up to the interim role. His first game as a coach will be on Wednesday night at home to the New York Knicks.