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New Suns GM Brian Gregory on head coaching search, role of Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein<\/p>\n
The Suns are looking to redefine the team identity with that coach that brings a systematic approach, toughness and accountability<\/p>\n
Brooklyn Nets<\/a> assistant Steve Hetzel is viewed in NBA circles as someone who \u201cdeeply cares\u201d about seeing players and coaches succeed.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a toughness about Hetzel that makes him the ideal person to have in the trenches of competition, league sources say.<\/p>\n One source called Hetzel \u201cunflappable\u201d in describing his composure and calm demeanor.<\/p>\n Hetzel is one of several candidates for the Phoenix Suns<\/a> head coaching vacancy along with Cleveland Cavaliers assistants Jordan Ott and Johnnie Bryant<\/a>, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Dallas Mavericks assistant Sean Sweeney<\/a>, Miami Heat assistant Chris Quinn, New Orleans Pelicans assistant James Borrego and Suns assistant David Fizdale, league sources confirmed to The Arizona Republic this week.<\/p>\n This will be Phoenix\u2019s fourth head coach in four seasons. Team owner Mat Ishbia has fired Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer after each of the last three seasons.<\/p>\n The Suns finished 36-46 this past season under Budenholzer in missing the playoffs and suffering their first losing season since 2019-20.<\/p>\n Like many coaches, Hetzel started his NBA career in the video room, serving as an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs (2005-06).<\/p>\n Hetzel was the Cavs\u2019 video coordinator from 2006 to 2009. He then became an assistant coach involved with player development for the Detroit Pistons (2009-13) before landing a head coaching job with the G League\u2019s Canton Charge.<\/p>\n Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez was his assistant in Canton.<\/p>\n The two connected, have been tight ever since and are now working together in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n \u201cI want nothing but success for him,\u201d Hetzel said about Fernandez in a Nets video posted on their social media page last month. \u201cI want us to have success. I want the Brooklyn Nets to have success, but I want him to be successful because he\u2019s like a brother to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Hetzel worked for three more NBA teams an assistant \u2013 Charlotte Hornets<\/a> (2014-18), Orlando Magic (2018-21) and Portland Trail Blazers (2021-24) \u2013 before reuniting with Fernandez in Brooklyn.<\/p>\n \u201cThe friendship, the loyalty is there because we know it,\u201d Fernandez said in the video. \u201cWe kept that and now work-wise, I can see how much he\u2019s grown. He\u2019s done different things, I\u2019ve done different things as well and I think that makes us even better as a group.\u201d<\/p>\n Fernandez brought in Hetzel last year. The Nets won just 26 games last season in Fernandez\u2019s first season as head coach.<\/p>\n Brooklyn is clearly in a rebuild, but Hetzel finds himself in the running for a head coaching position in Phoenix. League sources say Hetzel \u201cdidn\u2019t skip steps\u201d in his journey.<\/p>\n He\u2019s viewed as someone who builds and maintains relationships on all levels, from front office to coaches and players, doing so in an authentic fashion.<\/p>\n Have opinions about the current state of the\u00a0Suns? Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at\u00a0dmrankin@gannett.com<\/a>\u00a0or contact him at 480-810-5518. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at\u00a0@DuaneRankin<\/a>.<\/p>\n Support local journalism: Subscribe to\u00a0azcentral.com<\/a>\u00a0today.<\/p>\n