Dan Majerle Out as Phoenix Suns Assistant Coach


Angered that he didn’t get the head coaching gig in Phoenix after Alvin Gentry was shown the door — it went instead to Lindsey Hunter — assistant coach Dan Majerle walked away from the Suns, which wasn’t unexpected. Per the AZ Republic: “Majerle was in his fifth season as a Suns assistant coach but had stopped working with the team Sunday when Lindsey Hunter was selected as the interim head coach in place of Alvin Gentry. Hunter was selected Sunday over lead assistant coach Elston Turner, assistant coach Igor Kokoskov and Majerle, who had been the suggestion of many Suns players to General Manager Lance Blanks during interviews Friday and Saturday. When Blanks called Majerle to inform him of the decision Sunday morning before practice, Majerle left US Airways Center and did not participate in Sunday’s and Monday’s practices. Majerle had been willing to return to the staff if Turner was selected. Majerle will receive his full salary for the season. Majerle is one of the most popular figures in Suns history, having playing eight seasons for the Suns (1988-95, 2001-02) with three All-Star appearances. His notoriety led to a chain of successful sports bars bearing his name, four seasons as a Suns broadcast analyst and several endorsement deals. After becoming an assistant, Majerle was made head coach of four Suns NBA Summer League entries.”