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76ers: Collins 'will lead us back'

On Friday, the 76ers officially announced the selection of Doug Collins as the 23d head coach in franchise history. The Sixers will introduce Collins, who signed a four-year contract, at a news conference scheduled for Monday at noon at the Wachovia Center.

Doug Collins will be introduced as the Sixers' head coach at a press conference on Monday. (Nick Wass/AP file photo)
Doug Collins will be introduced as the Sixers' head coach at a press conference on Monday. (Nick Wass/AP file photo)Read more

On Friday, the 76ers officially announced the selection of Doug Collins as the 23d head coach in franchise history.

The Sixers will introduce Collins, who signed a four-year contract, at a news conference scheduled for Monday at noon at the Wachovia Center.

"Doug Collins is a terrific motivator, teacher, and manager," said Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko in a team statement. "We believe he is the right coach for the Philadelphia 76ers and the one who will lead us back onto the right track."

The selection of Collins ends a monthlong coaching search conducted by Sixers president and general manager Ed Stefanski, who fired coach Eddie Jordan on April 15.

The Sixers still owe Jordan, who finished his first season with a record of 27-55, a total of $6 million over the next two seasons.

Stefanski, aided in the process by assistant general manager Tony DiLeo and team consultant Gene Shue, first interviewed Collins on May 1 and eventually met with seven different candidates.

"We are excited to hire a head coach with the level of experience, knowledge and passion for the game that Doug Collins has," Stefanski said. "He has been around basketball his entire life, has experienced success at every step throughout his career and we are confident in his ability to lead our team."

Collins, currently working as an analyst with TNT, has previously coached the Chicago Bulls (1986-89), Detroit Pistons (1995-98), and Washington Wizards (2001-03).

Collins has a career coaching record of 332-287.

In 1973, the Sixers made Collins the No. 1 overall pick of that year's NBA draft. Collins played his entire NBA career, 1973-81, for the Sixers and still has ties to the area: his daughter, Kelly, lives in West Chester.

"The past week has provided us with a series of events that we believe will be a turning point for the Philadelphia 76ers," said Comcast-Spectacor chairman Ed Snider. "Doug Collins is a coach that can make an immediate impact. He has all the attributes that we are looking for in a new head coach and we are happy to welcome him back into the Sixers family."

On Tuesday, the Sixers secured the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NBA draft, which is scheduled for June 24 at Madison Square Garden. Most draft experts have Ohio State shooting guard Evan Turner as the No. 2 prospect in the draft, and likely the Sixers' selection.

"I think he's definitely a good coach to play for, just judging from [Michael] Jordan's first couple of years," said Turner, speaking from the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. "Everybody I talked to said I would like him and like to play for him. He's a player's coach. He's been around the game. He's a good player himself."