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Full-time for Irvine? Reports have Pistons coach signing three-year deal
Posted: Sunday June 04, 2000 08:25 AM
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- George Irvine is expected this week to sign a three-year contract to coach the Detroit Pistons, according to published reports Saturday. Unnamed sources told Booth News Service and the Detroit Free Press that Irvine's deal will be less than $2 million per year. Messages left for a Pistons' spokesman and at Irvine's California home were not immediately returned Saturday. Irvine's attorney, Keith Glass, told Booth News on Friday afternoon that the deal is close and that negotiations have been friendly. “We're not done, but we're getting there,” Glass said. “I don't foresee any problems right now.” The team is supposed to make an announcement next week, according to both reports. Irvine, 52, took over as head coach after Alvin Gentry was fired March 6. He said then he wasn't interested in the full-time job, only to change his mind after the Pistons went 14-10 -- 7-5 away from the Palace -- before being swept by Miami in the playoffs' first round. Irvine's change of heart was inspired by the way the Pistons responded under him, he said in an interview last month. Many players, including Grant Hill, publicly endorsed him as permanent head coach.
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