Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek named Western Conference Coach of the Month

Jan 2, 2014, 8:22 PM | Updated: 8:23 pm

The NBA announced Thursday Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek was named the Western Conference Coach of the Month for December after guiding his team to a 10-3 record.

Hornacek joins Larry Bird and Larry Drew as the only people in NBA history to win the monthly honor as both a player and as a coach, with Hornacek being the first to win both honors with the same franchise.

It’s Hornacek’s first career NBA Coach of the Month award, and the sixth won by a Suns coach. Alvin Gentry got the honor in Nov. 2009 and March 2010, Mike D’Antoni won in Dec. 2004, Feb. 2006 and Dec. 2006, Frank Johnson did so in Dec. 2002, and the late Cotton Fitzsimmons won in April 1989, Feb. 1990 and Dec. 1991.

In all, Hornacek’s is the 12th monthly selection in franchise history. Overall, Hornacek’s 19-11 mark is the second-best by a Suns head coach through his first 30 games, trailing only Paul Westphal, who went 24-6 in 1992-93.

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