Dec 13 2008
Sixers Fire Cheeks
The Philadelphia 76ers have fired head coach Maurice Cheeks on Saturday afternoon before their night game with the Washington Wizards.
The Sixers started the season 9-14 and have lost eight of their past 10 games.
Cheeks’ contract was not up until next season. He led the Sixers to the playoffs in 2007-08 after a disappointing start to the season.
Cheeks’ record as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and Sixers is 284-286.
Team Sr. Vice President and Assistant General Manager Tony DiLeo has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
GM Ed Stefanski announced the decision to remove Cheeks during a 5pm press conference at the Wachovia Center media room.
DiLeo is now in his 19th season with the Sixers and his fifth as the team’s Sr. Vice President and General Manager.
DiLeo served as the Sixers’ Director of Player Personnel from 1999-2003 and served as an assistant coach under Larry Brown, Jim Lynam, Fred Carter, John Lucas and Doug Moe.
DiLeo is a local product. He went to Cinnaminson High School in New Jersey and played collegiately at Tennessee Tech and LaSalle.
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