Cavs Make Wittman New Coach

The Cleveland Cavaliers ended their search for a coach today by hiring Randy Wittman, a longtime Minnesota Timberwolves assistant with no head coaching experience.

Wittman, a member of Indiana's 1981 NCAA championship team and a journeyman in his NBA playing days, replaced Mike Fratello, who was fired on June 1.

The 39-year-old Wittman takes over a team that badly needs an infusion of energy.

Cleveland hasn't made it past the first round of the playoffs since 1993 and its average attendance has dropped from 18,011 in 1994-95 to 14,120 last season.

"His experience as a player and as an assistant shaped him and prepared him for this job," general manager Jim Paxson said at a news conference.

The Cavs were secretive about their coaching search from the time Fratello was fired.

Despite Cleveland's stated intent to create some excitement surrounding a team known for its plodding style under Fratello, the Cavaliers refused to reveal the names of any potential coaching candidates.

When Wittman arrived in Cleveland today, the Cavs sent a limousine to pick him up at his plane, so he avoided reporters and fans at the flight gate.

Three coaches were known to have been interviewed for the job besides Wittman, Dave Cowens, Del Harris and John MacLeod.

The hiring of Wittman is part of a continuing makeover of the Cavaliers organization in which well-known names are being replaced by a younger group less recognized by fans.

In addition to the firing of Fratello, known as the "Czar of Telestrator" for his television commentary work on NBC, newly elected Hall of Famer Wayne Embry stepped aside as general manager in favor of Paxson.

And last week's draft saw the Cavs make two other moves which could change their look on the court.

Unable to trade up in the first round to get Miami of Ohio's Wally Szczerbiak, Cleveland took Utah point Andre Miller and Duke shooting guard Trajan Langdon a pair who could potentially challenge Brevin Knight and Derek Anderson for their jobs.

Paxson was simultaneously preparing for the draft as he looked for a coach. He didn't want to rush to pick a new coach, insisting he would wait as long as he needed before recommending a candidate to owner Gordon Gund.

Wittman first met with Paxson on June 16 and was back in Cleveland 10 days later to have dinner with him. Wittman emerged as the frontrunner over the holiday weekend after meeting with Gund at the owner's offices in Princeton, N.J.

Wittman is well regarded in NBA coaching circles, and in his five years with the Timberwolves gained a reputation as one of the league's brightest assistants.

Before going to Minnesota, he spent the 1993-94 season as an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks. He also worked a year in Indiana on Bob Hill's coaching staff with the Pacers.

A nine-year NBA veteran, Wittman was a first-round draft pick of the Washington ullets but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks before the 1983-84 season. He finished his career averaging 7.4 points per game following stints in Atlanta, Sacramento and Indiana.

In addition to playing for Indiana's 1981 championship team, Wittman was a two-time academic All-American with the Hoosiers.

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