Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn has had an interesting journey to becoming the leader of Brooklyn’s organization. After coming to the Nets to be the top assistant coach for Kenny Atkinson before the start of the 2016-17 season, Vaughn first became the head coach for Brooklyn, on an interim basis, in March 2020 after Atkinson was fired.
However, later that year in September, Steve Nash was hired as head coach, forcing Vaughn back to the bench as an assistant coach. Vaughn got another chance to be the head coach of the Nets when Nash and Brooklyn parted ways in November 2022. Vaughn went from being the head man, in interim, after Nash’s departing to being was named the permanent head coach later in November and receiving a contract extension in February 2023.
Since February, Vaughn has been in charge of a team in transition from being centered around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to a squad with a promising future. After nine seasons with Brooklyn, Vaughn will be getting his first chance to lead the Nets starting with training camp and he’s relishing in the moment.
“I’ve really come to appreciate each of them (past coaching experiences). They all feel pretty good. I woke up this morning and said ‘I’m lucky to be coaching this league,’ one of 30. I think I keep that perspective. I give these dudes all the juice that I have and we’ll do it again the next day. It’s pretty cool to have some rookies involved. I think that’s always cool to be able to lay a foundation for what their career looks like, be responsible for that. But, to guide a group, there’s definitely an appreciation.”
Jacque Vaughn was asked about the excitement level for having a full training camp to run with the Nets:
"I woke up this morning and said I'm lucky to be a coach in this league of 1 of 30.Give these dudes all the juice that I have and we do it again the next day" pic.twitter.com/flwmnc4dvN
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) October 3, 2023
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