Struggling Nets fire head coach Jacque Vaughn

The Brooklyn Nets fired head coach Jacque Vaughn on Monday morning, the team revealed.

The former NBA guard was in his second season as coach of the Nets, who are 21-33 and sit in 11th place in the East. The Nets ended a disappointing first half of the season with a 50-point loss in Boston in their final match before the All-Star break.

“To Joe Tsai, Clara Wu-Tsai, Ollie Weisberg, Sam Zussman, Sean Marks and front office, Nets coaches, staff, players, BSE family and the entire Brooklyn borough: It was a pleasure being your Head Coach,” said Vaughn in a statement issued to ESPN following his dismissal.

“I hope each individual I interacted with felt respected and valued. Just know I gave you everything I had every single day. Onto the next chapter. Amor Fati.”

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In two-plus seasons as Nets coach, Vaughn was 71-68 in the regular season and 0-8 in the playoffs.

He replaced Steve Nash a season ago before going 43-32 and getting swept in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Vaughn got his first opportunity to coach the Nets in March 2020 after Kenny Atkinson was fired just before the season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He led the Nets to a 7-3 record and into the playoffs in the restart “bubble” at Walt Disney World, but the Nets then opted to give the head-coaching job to Nash, despite having no experience. Vaughn stayed on as an assistant.

“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 said in a statement.

“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.”

Vaughn is 129-226 as an NBA coach, having gone 58-158 in his first chance with Orlando. The Nets are rebuilding the roster around forward Mikal Bridges and hold significant salary cap space and draft capital to build around him this summer and beyond.

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