Fired Clippers Coach Vinny Del Negro Says Players Shouldn't Dictate Coaching Hires

Vinny Del Negro’s demise as coach of the L.A. Clippers may or may not have come at the hands of All-Star point guard Chris Paul; either way the now out-of-work coach has an ironclad opinion on the overall issue.

Del Negro told the Mike & Mike Show “it’s a big mistake letting player’s dictate” what coaches get hired and fired. “You can’t be as successful letting players to dictate.

 In the aftermath of Del Negro’s dismissal, owner Donald Sterling more or less admitted he ultimately chose to let Del Negro go based on an effort to appease the free-agent to be Paul. Sterling was long thought to be Del Negro’s biggest supporter in the organization, but pitted against Paul he never really stood a chance.

“The coach is a wonderful man, and I’m sad about the whole things,” Sterling told ProBasketballTalk.com. “I rather not say anything, but I liked working with him. There are just factors that make life very complicated and very challenging.”

The Clippers enjoyed their most successful year in franchise history this season, finishing with 56 wins and a Pacific Division title. They then advanced to the semifinal round of the Western Conference playoffs before being bounced by Memphis.

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