Pistons Fire Coach Gentry

Alvin Gentry was fired as coach of the Detroit Pistons today, a little more than two years after replacing Doug Collins.

Gentry, in his first try as a permanent NBA head coach after 10 years as an assistant with four teams, was replaced on an interim basis by assistant George Irvine.

The Pistons, led by All-Stars Grant Hill and Jerry Stackhouse, are 28-30 and fourth in the Central Division.

Irvine's first game as coach will be Wednesday night at home against Denver.

General manager Rick Sund said the Pistons' inconsistency became more evident in recent weeks, with the team struggling for a playoff spot.

"I think we've watched these slumps, we've said just give it more time, just give it more time," Sund said after practice today. "Well, time is running out."

The dismissal was not expected and could signal that Hill has become concerned about the team's chances of making the playoffs under Gentry.

Hill is the key to everything the Pistons have done all season. Gentry always appeared to have his support and the Pistons desperately hope to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent after the season. If they lose Hill, five years of building and waiting may have been in vain.

"I just think it's unfortunate in this business when you go through stretches like this," Hill said after practice. "This is tough, unfortunate. I've been around Alvin. He's a great guy and did the best job he could."

Hill said Gentry addressed the team today and appeared jovial, relaxed and professional when he told the players he was fired. Hill said Gentry told them "this is the nature of the beast, this is the nature of the business."

The Pistons have had one defensive breakdown after another this season. They have not played well on the road, going 8-21. The latest example came Saturday, a 110-97 loss at Washington for Detroit's third straight loss.

"It seems like every night an unsung hero comes up and beats us," Stackhouse said after the latest defeat. "It's almost like we're snakebitten."

The firing marks the sixth NBA coaching change this season, the most recent one at Washington on Jan. 29 when Darrell Walker replaced Gar Heard. The other changes were at Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix and Vancouver.

Detroit finished 29-21 in last year's lockout-shortened season, then lost in the first round of the playoffs to Atlanta.

The year before, Detroit missed the playoffs and finished 16-21 under Gentry. He took over on Feb. 2, 1998 after Collins was fired. Gentry was hired as permanent coach for the following season.

In 1995, Gentry finished out the season as Miami's interim coach afer the Heat fired Kevin Loughery.

He guided the Heat to a 15-21 record for the final 36 games of the 1994-95 season, but was not offered the job at the end of the season. He then joined the Pistons as an assistant for the 1995-96 season under Collins.

Irvine, a former player, coach and executive with several teams, has been an assistant with the Pistons since 1999.

He played six seasons in the ABA with the Virginia Squires and Denver Nuggets before a knee injury forced him to retire at the start of the 1976-77 season. He then worked four seasons as an assistant with the Nuggets.

Irvine was an assistant at Indiana for five seasons, coached the Pacers for two years and was vice president of basketball operations for eight seasons. He also was a Golden State assistant for two seasons.

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