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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, January 16, 1992                   TAG: 9201160038
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: C1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SEATTLE                                LENGTH: Short

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NBA SONICS FIRE JONES

The Seattle SuperSonics, stung by consecutive home losses to Orlando and Charlotte, fired coach K.C. Jones on Wednesday, hours after a one-point overtime loss to the expansion Hornets.

Sonics president Bob Whitsitt named assistant Bob Cloppenburg as interim coach.

Jones, promoted to head coach in May 1990, led the Sonics to a 41-41 record and a playoff berth last season. Seattle, tied for fifth in the Pacific Division, is 18-18 and has lost its past three games.

"This is the most difficult decision I have ever made," Whitsitt said in a five-paragraph statement. "K.C. is a class person in the truest sense of the word. But at this time, it has become clear that we need to go in a different direction on the court."

The 59-year-old Jones was hired as an assistant in August 1989 and became coach in 1990 when Bernie Bickerstaff left for the Denver Nuggets.

The NBA Hall of Famer coached the Boston Celtics for five seasons (1983-88) and guided them to NBA championships in 1984 and 1986. He also coached the Bullets for three years, from 1973-76.

The firing of Jones gives the city a triple dose of coaching moves. The Mariners fired Jim Lefebvre in October, and Seahawks coach Chuck Knox resigned last month.

Keywords:
BASKETBALL

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