Collins Returns Home To Lead Sixers
PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Doug Collins is home again and ready to coach the team for which he played for eight seasons.
Collins agreed to become the next head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers last week and was introduced Monday. It will be the fourth different team for Collins, who previously coached the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards.
Selected by the Sixers as the first overall pick of the draft in 1973, Collins was a four-time All-Star in his eight seasons with the club and averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.25 steals in 415 games. He helped the Sixers to the NBA Finals in the spring of 1977, a six-game loss to Portland.
Collins inherits a team that was 27-55 last season under Eddie Jordan. It was the worst mark for the franchise since 1996-97.
"We're not ready to win a championship," Collins said at Monday's press conference. "I'm talking about being relevant again.
"This city loves pro basketball. This is one of the signature franchises in the NBA. We need to get back and we need to be relevant. We need to build something that is going to last."
Collins will have a chance to start that building process immediately, as the Sixers have the second overall pick in the June draft.
The 58-year-old last coached with the Wizards from 2001-03 and has a career mark of 332-287. His teams have been to the playoffs five times, going as far as the conference finals with the Bulls in the 1988-89 season. He was then replaced by his assistant, Phil Jackson.
Collins said he was still working on a staff, but indicated that former Sixers guard Aaron McKie would remain with the club.
