Indiana Pacers Fire Nate Bjorkgren As Coach After Just 1 Season
Jun 9, 2021, 12:01 PM | Updated: Dec 7, 2022, 3:43 pm
Nate Bjorkgren the head coach of the Indiana Pacers gives instructions to his team against the Toronto Raptors at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 24, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Indiana Pacers fired Nate Bjorkgren on Wednesday after missing the playoffs in his only season as coach.
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The Pacers went 34-38 and their season ended with a 142-115 loss to Washington in the play-in tournament that ended their run of five straight playoff appearances.
Team president Kevin Pritchard chose afterward to take some time to evaluate the coaching position.
“The 2020-21 season was not what any of us hoped or anticipated it would be, and our results on the court certainly did not meet the standards for what our organization and our fans have come to expect,” he said in a statement.
The Indiana Pacers announced that Nate Bjorkgren will not be retained as the team’s head coach.
More info:https://t.co/2d2BIaO1W5
— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) June 9, 2021
Pritchard added that the Pacers would move quickly to identify candidates to replace Bjorkgren but had no timetable for a hire.
Bjorkgren was previously an assistant in Toronto and Phoenix, but his move to the top spot was a rocky one, with both he and Pritchard acknowledging difficulties managing the players.
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