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Jacque Vaughn pens a farewell statement to the Brooklyn Nets organization
The Nets let go of Jacque Vaughn early Monday morning, which ended a working relationship that had lasted eight years. The now-former head coach joined Brooklyn in 2016 as an assistant coach after leading the Orlando Magic for three years.
Vaughn was an assistant for the Nets for most of his time but was promoted to head coach in late 2022 after Steve Nash's dismissal. Now, Vaughn finds himself in a similar position as the man he replaced because the team wants to move in a different direction.
“To Joe Tsai, Clara Wu-Tsai, Ollie Weisberg, Sam Zussman, Sean Marks and front office, Nets coaches, staff, players, BSE family, and the entire Brooklyn borough: It was a pleasure being your Head Coach,” Vaughn said in a statement to ESPN.
"I hope each individual I interacted with felt respected and valued. Just know I gave you everything I had every single day. Onto the next chapter. Amor Fati.”
Vaughn was a beloved figure
Despite his shortcomings as a head coach, Vaughn was a lovely figure to everyone he interacted with. Media members loved talking to JV because he was always accommodating to anyone asking questions.
The front office also loved having Vaughn, as evidenced by his near-decade-long stint with the organization. General manager Sean Marks found it challenging to decide the team’s future with the ex-head coach because he held his presence in high regard.
Brooklyn’s players like Mikal Bridges also loved having Vaughn as a mentor, but the lack of structure and in-game adjustments soured them on having the 49-year-old as their coach moving forward.
Vaughn will likely land on his feet
Now that Vaughn has exited the Nets, teams will likely approach him for a role within their coaching staff. He was well-regarded as an assistant coach, which could be his long-term role for a team that hires him. Vaughn is also a positive presence in any locker room, which could bode well for any team, whether a contender or a developing squad.
There are no specific teams yet, but Vaughn’s reputation could take him to another team. He leaves Brooklyn at a low point, but that should not dampen his impact within the organization over the past eight years.
