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Grizzlies fire Marc Iavaroni after 11-30 start
By JAY COHEN, AP Sports Writer
Jan 23, 2009 - 11:12:46 AM

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NEW YORK – Marc Iavaroni had big plans when he became coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. He talked about a passion for winning and competing.

In this Oct. 17, 2008, file photo, Memphis Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni reacts to a call during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. The Grizzlies have fired Iavaroni after a lackluster 11-30 start. Team spokesman Dustin Krugel confirmed Iavaroni's dismissal Thursday night, Jan. 22, 2009, but would not say who would coach the Grizzlies on Friday night against the Knicks. General manager Chris Wallace was traveling to New York. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)


His vision never materialized.

Halfway through another lost season, Memphis fired Iavaroni on Thursday night.

Team spokesman Dustin Krugel confirmed Iavaroni's dismissal. The Grizzlies announced Friday that assistant coach Johnny Davis would replace Iavaroni on an interim basis.

Memphis has lost seven straight and 15 of 17 to fall to 11-30 after Iavaroni led the team to a 22-60 record last season, his first as an NBA head coach.

"We wish Marc all the best in his future endeavors," general manager Chris Wallace said in a statement. "He gave his all to the organization while serving as head coach and represented the Grizzlies with class and a high level of professionalism."

Iavaroni's firing was first reported by TNT and The Commercial Appeal.

According to a story on the newspaper's Web site, Davis will coach Memphis for the next two games before Lionel Hollins rejoins the team for a third stint as head coach. Hollins is an assistant with Milwaukee. The report cited a source with knowledge of the organization's plans.

The Grizzlies went 49-33 and made the playoffs in 2005-06, but Mike Fratello was fired after the team got off to a 6-24 start the following season. Tony Barone Sr. took over on an interim basis and led Memphis to an NBA-worst 22-60 mark.

Davis is a longtime NBA assistant with two brief head coaching stints. He went 73-144 with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996-97 and the Orlando Magic for parts of the 2003-04 and 2004-05 seasons.

The Grizzlies were in a prime spot to nab Greg Oden or Kevin Durant in the 2007 draft, but slipped to the fourth spot in the lottery and ended up with guard Mike Conley — so far a disappointment.

Then-Memphis president Jerry West called the lottery result "grossly unfair."

Iavaroni became the ninth coach in franchise history in May 2007 after spending five seasons as an assistant with Phoenix. He also coached under Pat Riley in Miami from 1999-02 and Fratello with Cleveland from 1997-99. Iavaroni played in the NBA from 1982 to 1989 with Philadelphia, San Antonio and Utah.

The Grizzlies are the seventh team to fire a coach this season, following Washington, Toronto, Sacramento, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Minnesota.

O.J. Mayo, the No. 3 overall pick last year, and Rudy Gay both have been bright spots for Memphis, but the team was 29th in the league in scoring at 93 points a game.

The Grizzlies made the playoffs for three straight seasons from 2003-06, but were swept in the first round each time.

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AP Sports Writer Rachel Cohen contributed to this report.


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