Suns searching for a new head coach following Alvin Gentry’s depature

Nash told the Kamenetzky Brothers that he thinks Gentry’s firing may turn out to be a good thing for the coach:

With the Suns out to a rotten 13-28 start this season, Phoenix decided to part ways with Gentry after nearly five years of service as head coach. Gentry took over for Terry Porter in the middle of the 2008-09 season and led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals the following year.

But refusing to take blame for putting together one of the most depressing “playoff contenders” in memory? Naw. That snail doesn’t scoot.

From Paul Coro’s impromptu “state of the Suns amid regime change” piece in the Arizona Republic:

SB Nation’s Suns blog Bright Side of the Sun has brief profiles of both Hunter and Turner, as well as blurbs on several longshots. But it is clear that Hunter and Turner are the favorites.

Hunter, 42, played in the NBA for 17 years before the Suns decided to name him assistant head coach for player development this past offseason. His only coaching experience before this year was as an assistant on his son’s high school team so it would be a bit of an upset if he manages to earn the Suns’ head job. Then again, as Mark Jackson has proved this season, perhaps a former point guard is exactly what a rebuilding franchise needs to turn its luck around. And according to Sam Amick, it looks like those who call the shots in Phoenix might agree with that theory as the USA Today NBA insider is reporting that Hunter has already “been pegged as the next guy in line.“

Gentry’s contract was up at the end of the year, but a terrible start to this season may have accelerated the process of parting ways. Gentry assumed head coaching duties in 2008-09 on an interim basis and led the team to an 18-13 mark over 31 games, and he eventually assumed full-time duties with the team.

The Suns have lost 13 of their last 15 games.