Reports: Hawks set to interview two for coaching vacancy

By Bud L. Ellis

With the Mike Woodson era over following one of the more embarrassing playoff performances in recent memory, the Atlanta Hawks are wasting little time in trying to turn the page.

According to published reports Monday, the Hawks are set to interview former Dallas head coach Avery Johnson and current Dallas assistant Dwane Casey. This comes three days after Woodson was told he would not be brought back following a four-game sweep of the Hawks by Orlando in the second round of the NBA playoffs, three of the four defeats coming by lopsided margins.

Johnson already has interviewed with New Orleans and Philadelphia. He led the Mavs to the 2006 NBA Finals, where Dallas won the first two games before losing the championship to Miami.

Casey has no previous NBA head coaching experience, but worked under Atlanta GM Rick Sund in Seattle.

Woodson, let go after six seasons at the helm, directed the Hawks to a better record in each season, raising the franchise from the stench of a 13-69 campaign to a 53-29 mark and the third seed in the Eastern Conference this season. But the Hawks were swept in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season, after nearly losing to undermatched Milwaukee in the first round.

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Monday, May 17, 2010 at 7:58 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Hawks, Avery Johnson, Dallas Mavericks, Dwane Casey, Mike Woodson, National Basketball Association, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Rick Sund, Seattle