Tag: jacque vaughn

The Brooklyn Nets have relieved Jacque Vaughn of his head coaching duties. An interim head coach will be named in the near future.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one we feel is in the best interest of the team going forward,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Jacque has represented this organization with exemplary character and class for the past eight years. The consistent positivity and passion he poured into our team daily will remain with the players and staff he interacted with throughout his tenure. We thank Jacque for all he has done for the Nets and the borough of Brooklyn, and wish him, Laura and their family nothing but the best in the future.”

Over parts of three seasons as head coach in Brooklyn, Vaughn compiled a record of 71-68 (.511).

Per the New York Post, “Nets actually started the season well, winning 13 of their first 23 games. But very little has gone right since, and Vaughn was made the scapegoat for the team’s many shortcomings. Star wing Mikal Bridges sounded the alarm after the ugly loss to the Celtics, questioning the team’s effort.”

Per New York Newsday, “the Nets have spiraled this season, having lost 18 of their last 24 games. In their last game before the All-Star break, the Nets lost by 50 points in Boston, the worst loss of their Brooklyn era and second-worst loss in franchise history. The Nets are 21-33 this season and in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games out of the play-in portion of the NBA playoff race.”

The Brooklyn Nets and Head Coach Jacque Vaughn have agreed to a multi-year contract extension.

“Jacque has made an immediate and immeasurable impact on our entire organization since assuming the role of head coach earlier this season,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “On the court, he’s clearly demonstrated his leadership through his ability to connect and communicate at a very high level while displaying tremendous instincts for the game. As a person, they don’t come any better than Jacque. His character is impeccable, and there is not a better representative for our team and our borough. We are thrilled to have Jacque lead the Nets for years to come.”

Vaughn took over as Brooklyn’s acting head coach on Nov. 1 and assumed the position on a full-time basis on Nov. 9. Since Nov. 1, Vaughn has guided the Nets to the fifth-best record in the league (32-19), trailing only Boston (38-15), Denver (37-15), Philadelphia (34-15) and Milwaukee (35-17), and the third-best road record in the league (16-11), behind only New York (17-9) and Boston (16-9).

The NBA announced today that Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jacque Vaughn has been named the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in December. The honor is the first of Vaughn’s coaching career.

Vaughn guided Brooklyn to the winningest month in franchise history and the best record in the league in December (12-1), three games ahead of the next-best team in the Eastern Conference. For the month, the Nets led the league in points per game (119.7), field goal percentage (54.0 percent), 3-point field goal percentage (42.2 percent), effective field goal percentage (61.3 percent) and offensive rating (120.5) while ranking second in net rating (8.3) and blocks per game (6.0), fourth in assists per game (26.6) and 10th in defensive rating (112.2). Brooklyn’s field goal percentage was the highest in a month for any team in more than 30 years (Golden State shot 54.1 percent from the field in Feb. 1992) and the highest in a month in franchise history. The Nets’ points per game were the third highest in a month in franchise history, as they tallied 110 or more points in 11 of their 13 games played. The Nets also posted a league-best 7-1 record in ‘clutch’ games (minutes when the scoring margin is within five points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game).

The Nets are in the midst of a 12-game win streak, which began on Dec. 7 at Charlotte. The 12 straight wins are the most for any team in the league this season, mark the third-longest win streak in franchise history and represent the most consecutive wins for the Nets since winning a franchise-record-tying 14 straight games in the 2005-06 season. Brooklyn has also reeled off seven straight road wins since Dec. 10 at Indiana, representing the longest road win streak in the league this season and marking the second-longest road win streak in franchise history, trailing only an eight-game road win streak in the 2020-21 campaign.

Vaughn took over as Brooklyn’s head coach on Nov. 1. Since then, the Nets have recorded a league-best 23-7 record, which represents the best 30-game start to a season for a head coach in franchise history. With Vaughn at the helm, Brooklyn has ranked third in offensive rating (117.0), fourth in defensive rating (109.8) and second in net rating (7.2), joining Boston as the only teams with a top five offense and defense in that time. For the season, Brooklyn boasts a 25-12 record, just one game behind the Celtics for the best record in the league, while posting the second-best road record in the league (12-7). The Nets lead the league in field goal percentage (51.5 percent) and blocks per game (6.8), rank second in 3-point field goal percentage (39.3 percent), third in opponent field goal percentage (45.3 percent) and are top 10 in the league in offensive rating (116.2 – third), defensive rating (111.6 – 10th) and net rating (4.5 – third), one of four teams with a top 10 offense and defense this season. The Nets have also compiled a league-best 14-3 record in ‘clutch’ games, including a 12-2 record with Vaughn leading the way.

Including a stint as the team’s interim head coach in the 2019-20 season, Vaughn has compiled a record of 30-10 as Brooklyn’s head coach, good for the best 40-game start for a head coach in Nets history. Vaughn is the sixth Nets head coach to earn Coach of the Month honors since the award was first presented in the 1982-83 season and the first since Steve Nash in Feb. 2021. Vaughn also joins Jason Kidd as the only two men to play for the Nets and earn a Coach of the Month honor as the franchise’s head coach.

All-Time Nets Coach of the Month Honorees:

Jacque Vaughn – Dec. 2022
Steve Nash – Feb. 2021
Jason Kidd – March 2014
Jason Kidd – Jan. 2014
Avery Johnson – Oct./Nov. 2012
Lawrence Frank – April 2007
Lawrence Frank – March 2006
Lawrence Frank – April 2005
Lawrence Frank – Feb. 2004
Byron Scott – Dec. 2003
Byron Scott – Dec. 2002

*Note – The NBA began awarding Coach of the Month by conference in 2002-03.

The Brooklyn Nets have named Jacque Vaughn as head coach.

“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,” said General Manager Sean Marks. “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.”

Vaughn was named acting head coach on November 1.

Per the New York Post, “the Nets, who reportedly were zeroing in on suspended Celtics coach Ime Udoka, instead have removed the “interim” label on Jacque Vaughn, who is now the head coach. The Nets have gone 2-2 in four games since Steve Nash was fired, but under Vaughn, they have held their opponents under 100 points for three games straight – the only three times they have done so this season.”

Vaughn, who was in his seventh season as an assistant coach with the Nets, also served as the team’s head coach for a 10-game regular season stint during the 2019-20 season. He compiled a 7-3 regular season record and guided the Nets through their first-round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. He previously spent two-plus seasons (2012-15) as head coach of the Orlando Magic and was a pro scout for one season (2015-16) and assistant coach for two seasons (2010-12) with the San Antonio Spurs.

Prior to beginning his coaching career, the Los Angeles native enjoyed a 12-year playing career in the NBA after being selected with the 27th overall pick in the first round of the 1997 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz. In 776 career games with the Jazz (1997-2001), Hawks (2001-02, 2003-04), Magic (2002-03), Nets (2004-06) and Spurs (2006-09), Vaughn recorded averages of 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 16.3 minutes per game. He made nine playoff appearances in his 12 NBA seasons and was a member of the 2007 NBA champion Spurs. Vaughn is one of the most decorated players in the storied history of Kansas basketball, both on and off the court, leaving Lawrence as a two-time consensus second-team All-American, the 1996 Big Eight Player of the Year and a two-time Academic All-American. Vaughn’s jersey (No. 11) was retired by the Jayhawks in 2002.