Pacers Making Coaching Changes

The Indiana Pacers have some work to do this summer in shaping their team. And it begins at the coaching position…just not at head  coach.

Head assistant Lester Conner will not return next season. Conner took over multiple times for Jim O’Brien this season when he was ejected or out with an illness. Conner was also the summer league head coach in Orlando.

That now leaves the Pacers with two coaching vacancies as veteran Dick Harter retired after last season with more than 40 years of coaching experience. He was also on staff under Larry Bird.

It is unclear yet whether Conner left on his own to pursue another opportunity although it appears he was fired because his coaching philosophy differed with that of O’Brien’s.

It is important to note that the other three assistants status’s are unknown. While Jim O’Brien did receive a one year extension for the 2010-2011 season, the other coaches contracts expire on June 30th. It is expected however, that Jay Defruscio, Frank Vogel and long-time Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke would be retained.

——————————————————————–
An interesting note from Pacers beat writer Mike Wells

The beginning of the end for Conner, though, came as he stood in the hallway outside the Pacers locker room on the night of Feb. 2.

Conner, who was filling in for O’Brien (death in the family), was asked during the pregame media session how much of O’Brien’s coaching style he planned to take with him if he ever becomes a head coach.

"Umm, not a whole lot," Conner told reporters at the time.

Jeff Van Gundy heard about Conner’s comments and lit into him on the air during a nationally televised game between Boston and Orlando.

What made matters worse for Conner is that O’Brien heard every word Van Gundy said because he was watching the game, according to sources.