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Memphis Names Fratello Coach
Dec. 2, 2004
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Mike Fratello will again follow in the footsteps of his mentor.
week after the surprising resignation of Hubie Brown, the Memphis Grizzlies named Fratello as their coach.
"We feel absolutely fortunate to have a guy like Mike Fratello taking over this team," Grizzlies president of basketball operations Jerry West said at a Thursday afternoon news conference at the FedEx Forum.
Lionel Hollins had been serving as interim coach for the Grizzlies' last four games -- all losses.
Fratello retained Hollins as an assistant but also named former Golden State Warriors coach Eric Musselman as an assistant.
The Grizzlies are the third team for Fratello, who last coached in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1998-99 and has a career record of 592-499 in 13 seasons.
"It's great to have this opportunity after 5½ years out of the game," Fratello said. "There were other opportunities along the way, but it didn't seem to be the right fit one way or the other. It's ironic that it would fit here in Memphis, to follow Hubie, because he brought me into the NBA. He's like a big brother to me."
Brown was hired as an assistant by Brown and replaced his mentor as coach of the Atlanta Hawks in 1983, inheriting a team that featured Dominique Wilkins and Dan Roundfield.
Now he takes over a team that won 50 games last year and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history but lost in the first round to San Antonio.
This year, the Grizzlies were 5-7 when the 71-year-old Brown resigned on Thanksgiving Day for unspecified health reasons. They were 0-4 under Hollins, losing Wednesday night at New York.
"When you take over a team that was coached by Hubie Brown, you have one that has discipline and organization," said Fratello, who will make his coaching debut at home Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Fratello has been working in TV as an analyst with TNT since leaving Cleveland in 1999 and became known as "The Czar of the Telestrator." He also worked as an analyst for the Miami Heat on the Sunshine Network.
"TNT was like a family to me," Fratello said. "I am grateful to them for letting me out of my contract to pursue this opportunity."
Musselman also returns from the media as he was working as an analyst for ESPN Radio. The son of former NBA coach Bill Musselman, he was 75-89 in two seasons with the Warriors, finishing second in 2003 coach of the year voting.
"(Musselman) has experience as a coach in the Western Conference and that's important," Fratello said. "He also comes with glowing recommendations from people like Chuck Daly and Hubie."
Hollins had been the top assistant on a staff that also includes Brown's son, Brendan. Earlier this season, Hubie Brown turned the play-calling over to his son, who got into an argument with point guard Jason Williams.
Fratello was 324-253 as coach of the Hawks from 1983-90. He took a three-year hiatus before returning to the sidelines with Cleveland in 1993. The New Jersey native coached the Cavaliers from 1993-99, posting a 248-212 mark.
ESPN via SportsTicker
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