PHOENIX SUNS

Phoenix Suns fire assistants after dismissing Igor Kokoskov

Apr 23, 2019, 2:55 PM | Updated: 3:18 pm

Phoenix Suns GM James Jones sits during an interview with The Doug & Wolf Show on 98.7 FM Arizo...

Phoenix Suns GM James Jones sits during an interview with The Doug & Wolf Show on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station on Feb. 11, 2019. (Arizona Sports/Matt Layman)

(Arizona Sports/Matt Layman)

The Phoenix Suns dismissed head coach Igor Kokoskov on Monday night following a 19-63 season, and on Tuesday, the rest of the coaching staff was let go, 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s John Gambadoro learned.

The assistant coaches include Joe Prunty, Corliss Williamson, Jamelle McMillan and Jason Staudt, in addition to other basketball operations personnel, training staff, coaches and analysts.

Gambadoro reports that before Kokoskov was fired, adding new members to the staff and assigning new roles was discussed. Kokoskov was open to the idea, per Gambadoro.

Prunty was formerly the interim head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks after Jason Kidd was fired. He led the Bucks to a 21-16 regular season record and a seven-game series loss to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. He has coached or served in some capacity with at least five other NBA organizations.

Williamson played 12 seasons in the NBA and was formerly an assistant with the Sacramento Kings and Orlando Magic.

McMillan played for ASU and is the son of Indiana Pacers head coach Nate McMillan. The younger McMillan is a former New Orleans Pelicans player development coach and assistant coach.

Staudt was a pro personnel scout for the Magic and an advanced scout for the Trail Blazers and Rockets before joining the Suns.

The Suns hired Prunty, Williamson, McMillan and Staudt all last offseason. That means that they, like Kokoskov, have served in the organization for only one season, and are now fellow one-and-done victims.

The front office’s basketball operations department is led by GM James Jones and newly-hired executive Jeff Bower, whose job title is senior vice president of basketball operations.

In a press release officially announcing the dismissal of Kokoskov, Jones said, “After extensive evaluation, I determined it is best to move in a different direction with our head coaching position.”

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant...

Dan Bickley

Legacies are on the line for Suns stars entering the playoffs

Legacy is a central theme on the eve of the Suns’ 2023-24 postseason journey, starting with the reputation of Devin Booker.

1 hour ago

Karl-Anthony Towns posts up Kevin Durant...

Arizona Sports

Who the favorite? Our roundtable makes Suns-Wolves playoff series predictions

Let's make our predictions for the Phoenix Suns and the Minnesota Timberwolves' first-round playoff series.

5 hours ago

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dunks the ball against Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoeni...

Kellan Olson

Who will win trade-off of Timberwolves’ size vs. Suns’ space?

The Minnesota Timberwolves' size and the Phoenix Suns' spacing will make for a fun stylistic clash in the NBA Playoffs.

10 hours ago

Devin Booker and Kevin Durant...

Nick Borgia

Team USA’s Grant Hill delivers Olympics jerseys to Devin Booker and Kevin Durant

Suns stars Devin Booker and Kevin Durant officially accepted the invitation to compete on USA's 12-man squad for the Paris Olympics.

1 day ago

...

Arizona Sports Video

Video: Is overconfidence the biggest concern with the Suns in their playoff series with the Timberwolves?

Having not lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves all season, Wolf & Luke wonder if the Phoenix Suns might be a little overconfident heading into their first round playoff series with them.

1 day ago

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Jusuf Nurkic #20 of the Phoenix Suns talks with Bradley Beal #3...

Kellan Olson

Bradley Beal, Jusuf Nurkic must maintain footing for Suns playoffs series vs. T-Wolves

Bradley Beal and Jusuf Nurkic must step up to help the Phoenix Suns' first-round playoff series against the Timberwolves.

1 day ago

Phoenix Suns fire assistants after dismissing Igor Kokoskov