Clippers offer a coaching position to Tim Grgurich

[mkwest]

In more definitive transaction news involving the Clippers, L.A. has offered a coaching position to famed skills guru Tim Grgurich in hopes of convincing Grgurich to walk away from longtime boss George Karl. The Nuggets are working to convince Grgurich to stay.

Marc Stein, ESPN

In NBA circles, the notoriously taciturn Grgurich is considered among the foremost luminaries in the coaching world. Players hold him in the highest esteem. He holds an annual training camp for NBA pros in Las Vegas each summer. The event is strictly word-of-mouth, and the media aren’t allowed anywhere near Clark County to cover it.

Grgurich would be a genius hire by the Clips, and a further signal the franchise is moving in the right direction, provided ownership comes to its senses on the matter of Allen Iverson.

Kevin Arnovitz, ClipperBlog

[Forte IV]

A coaching job meanign Headcooach? Or assitant coaxh?

[mkwest]

Assistant position. We would probably have to outbid Denver for him though, unless he just feels like he's up for a challenge.

Here is his profile

Longtime NBA veteran and highly respected assistant coach Tim Grgurich begins his fourth season with the Nuggets. Grgurich (GUR-gur-ich) brings 17 years of NBA experience to the Nuggets bench, including 11 with Head Coach George Karl.

Before joining the Nuggets, Grgurich served as an assistant in Portland (2004-05; ’98-01), Phoenix (’02-04), Milwaukee (’01-02) and Seattle (’91-98).

Karl and Grgurich have a long history of success together. Including last season, Grgurich has been on Karl’s staff for five division titles and the pair made a trip to the NBA Finals together with Seattle in 1996.

The Trail Blazers also won a division crown with Grgurich on staff in ’98-99 and reached the Western Conference Finals twice.

Grgurich spent 12 years as an assistant coach under Jerry Tarkanian at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, preparing emerging NBA standouts such as Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Greg Anthony, Armen Gilliam and Sidney Green. The Runnin’ Rebels won the 1990 NCAA Championship and made three Final Four appearances while he was part of the program.

His coaching career began at his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, where he also was a three-year letterman in both basketball and baseball. He began as an assistant and guided the freshman team to a 99-33 mark before assuming head coaching duties in 1975. Over five seasons, Pitt was 71-70 and made one trip to the NIT. As a player, he helped the Panthers to an NCAA and NIT tournament bid.

Grgurich earned a physical education degree from Pittsburgh. He and his wife Kathy have two daughters, Jennifer and Suzanne.

NBA.com

[JJ LoDuca]

Don't know much about this guy, but from the info you posted, MK, it seems like a move in the right direction. That is, if we pull it off.

[TheNewEra]

Go for it we have so many young players we need someone of high cailber to help manage them.

[eathy]

He was ranked 4th best assistant coach in a survey of all the GMs in the league.

He left Portland because they were a losing team... I honestly doubt he'd go to the Clippers.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Grgurich did an admirable job in Seattle, Portland, Phoenix & Denver. Our FO finally trying to go after movers and shakers.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

I say get him if we can. Maybe the fact that we have Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon might be enough to lure him away from Denver.

[mkwest]

Ex-Rebels coach on Clippers' radar

"The most important thing to Tim is can he be a contributor to a team's success, especially with the young guys," LeGarie said.

Grgurich lives in Henderson and owns a home in Marina Del Rey, Calif., not far from the Clippers' practice facility. His daughter, Suzie, lives nearby.

"This is not about money," LeGarie said. "It's about feeling that he's making a difference. (The Clippers) have a lot of young players he could work with, and (point guard) Baron Davis loves him."

The Nuggets are not commenting. When asked about Grgurich, Clippers coach-general manager Mike Dunleavy said, "We don't talk about moves in public." Grgurich also declined comment.

The Clippers also reportedly are pursuing Allen Iverson. Iverson played in Denver and was coached by Grgurich, and, according to LeGarie, the two became close during Iverson's two-year stay with the Nuggets. Grgurich's hiring could be what ultimately convinces Iverson to come to L.A.

LeGarie said a decision should be made in a couple of weeks.

"With Gurg, you never put a timetable on it," he said."

Steve Carp, Las Vegas Review-Journal