The Pistons began conducting interviews for their open head coaching position earlier this week, according to James L. Edwards III of The Athletic, who reports that a trio of candidates have emerged as potential frontrunners in the early stages of the process.
Former Overtime Elite head coach Kevin Ollie, Bucks assistant Charles Lee, and Pelicans assistant Jarron Collins are the top three candidates for Detroit’s coaching vacancy so far, says Edwards.
The Pistons had Ollie and Lee high on their list entering the process, according to Edwards, and have now interviewed both of them. Marc Stein identified the duo earlier this week as possible favorites of general manager Troy Weaver, though he noted that vice chairman Arn Tellem would also have “considerable influence” in the search.
As for Collins, the Pistons were “very interested” in the veteran assistant when they began their search, says Edwards. League and team sources tell The Athletic that Collins’ interview with the club was “stellar.”
None of Detroit’s early frontrunners have previously served as NBA head coaches, though Collins and Ollie played in the league.
Lee, who competed in international leagues as a player, has been a longtime assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Milwaukee and Atlanta, while Collins was on Steve Kerr‘s staff for seven years in Golden State before moving to New Orleans under Willie Green in 2021. Ollie lacks any sort of NBA coaching experience, but coached at UConn for eight seasons (six as head coach) and led the Overtime Elite program for two years.
The Pistons have no definitive timetable to make a hire and will take their time to evaluate candidates, according to Edwards, who says that more contenders could emerge over the course of the search.
Nurse is not on their list?
What makes Ollie such a viable candidate?
Have to wonder if whomever takes over has a rider that says no signing Draymond on the team if they take over.
With rumors of a hometown reunion I’d be very, very nervous to let that guy near the organization let alone the building.
Who knows what his antics will escalate to? Manslaughter? Murder? Worse?
Jim Boylen is available.
Maybe Ollie has changed but he destroyed the UCONN program. He was more concerned with golf clubs, bars and young women than he was with winning games. Not sure Detroit is the right fit except they don’t seem to care about winning games either.
By golf club do you mean he had an obsession with irons or like a private country club? Or something all together different — A golf club, where you go and dance with friends and order bottle service but you have to dress up in wacky clothes!
Well? I’m waiting…
I always wonder why no one tool a shot on Mahorn or Laimbeer as a coach all those years ago. The Association might be a little tougher today.
Hire me in your staff
Maybe it’s just me but I’m not impressed with any of the candidates. Where are all the hard nosed old-school coaches who will put his foot in these guys azzez? These players are over-paid princesses with no work ethic that need some in your face coaching IMO! With Casey running the show, it was always a soft, it’s gonna be OK type of coaching that made me sick! This roster has plenty of talent but players like Cunningham, Ivey,etc have been pampered their whole college and NBA careers thus far and have no accountability. I’ll take an 80s style coaching candidate all day over these 3 guys!