NBA

Nets’ Jordi Fernandez makes more changes to coaching staff

PHILADELPHIA — The reshuffling of the Nets’ coaching staff continues, with one holdover and at least three outgoings.

With newly hired head coach Jordi Fernandez having been unveiled last week, former interim Kevin Ollie, who stepped in for the fired Jacque Vaughn over the All-Star break, predictably will not be returning. Brooklyn was 11-17 under Ollie, eighth-worst in the NBA in that span.

Will Weaver and Ronnie Burrell also will not return.

Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

The news was first reported by HoopsHype and confirmed by The Post.

Fernandez will retain Jay Hernandez, who had been a developmental assistant on Vaughn’s staff.

Ollie had been one of a dozen interviewed by general manager Sean Marks for the head-coaching job, and last week Marks claimed Ollie had been a legitimate candidate.

But the GM was coy about whether he would be retained as an assistant, only saying Ollie was “a head coach” in comments that sounded like a farewell.

“Kevin was a candidate the entire way. Kevin went through the whole process with us. So I appreciate what Kevin did,” Marks said.

“Never an easy job to come in there and not have a training camp and so forth, and inherit the team that he did and try to put his fingerprints all over. So I give him that heck of a lot of credit without a doubt. He’s a head coach. We wish, obviously, Kevin nothing but the best for that.”

Fernandez already had settled on Trail Blazers assistant Steve Hetzel and ex-University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard for his staff.

He’ll rely on his assistants to coach Las Vegas Summer League, since he’ll be indisposed coaching Team Canada as it prepares for the Paris Olympics.

The Nets general manager said Ollie was a candidate "the whole way."
The Nets general manager said Ollie was a candidate “the whole way.” Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

It’s expected that Hetzel, Howard and Hernandez will handle much of the summer league coaching responsibilities.

Fernandez will be in Las Vegas early in July but remains head coach of the Canadian national team.

Assistant Adam Caporn’s status is unknown, while several members of Brooklyn’s performance team are not being renewed per NetsDaily.

“TBD,” Marks said when asked about the status of the current assistants. “Yeah. I think that’s something that Jodi’s working through now, and who is he going to bring in. And I think he’s being very reflective on looking at where’s areas that I need help on? Where can I improve and who can help me do that?

“I think with any good coach or any good leader, that’s what they should be doing, is hiring for areas where maybe you’re not so good at or not astute at or you don’t want to do, right?”