Mike Dunlap didn’t last long in Charlotte, as the former St. John’s coach was fired on Tuesday after only one year on the job. He becomes the third head coach in three seasons in Charlotte to be let go, as the franchise is still trying to find its way under the direction of Michael Jordan.
Mike Dunlap fired as Charlotte Bobcats head coach
Charlotte tripled their win total from last season, but it wasn’t enough to save the job of their first-year head coach, who was fired on Tuesday.
Anthony Gruppuso-US PRESSWIRE
More: Rufus on Fire
Dunlap, a 55-year-old who had only spent three seasons in the NBA before joining the Bobcats, was widely seen as a transition hire. A former college coach with plenty of experience dealing with younger players, Dunlap would help Charlotte's core of high draft picks develop, even if it didn't necessarily translate into wins.
The team clearly responded to Dunlap early, becoming the talk of the NBA after a surprising 7-5 start to the season. However, their lack of talent quickly caught up to them, as they went on an 18-game losing streak that sent them back to the basement of the Eastern Conference.
Dunlap clashed with players like Ben Gordon during the season, but his 21-61 record sealed his fate with the Bobcats. With Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo all showing signs of improvement this season, Dunlap appears to have left the franchise in a better position than he found it, but the next coach will still have a long way to go bring them back to respectability.
More from SB Nation:
See More:
