One day after losing a fifth straight game, 99-80 to the Seattle Storm, the Los Angeles Sparks decided it was time for a change.
Head coach Jennifer Gillom was fired on Sunday and replaced with Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.
“This was a very difficult decision, but I felt it was necessary to take the team in a different direction at this point in the season,” Sparks general manager Penny Toler said on the Sparks website. “Joe’s familiarity with the Sparks organization put us in the best possible position to compete going forward.
Bryant was the Sparks head coach in from Aug. 2005 through the end of the 2006 season. He served as the team’s assistant coach since March of this year.
“I enjoyed coaching the players and working alongside my staff, and am confident they will accomplish great things this season,” Gillom said.
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