Raptors Name O’Neill as New Head Coach

TORONTO, 20 June 2003 — The NBA’s Toronto Raptors named Kevin O’Neill as their new head coach on Wednesday with a hope he will get the team back on track after a dismal, injury-plagued season.

O’Neill has never been a head coach in the National Basketball Association, but the Raptors, now on their fifth coach heading into their ninth season, believe he is the man to jumpstart the team that finished third-worst in the league.

O’Neill faces a major rebuilding job after the team missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons with 24 wins and 58 losses. “I think what I want most from our team is to see us improve daily, become a consistent group that plays as a team, plays hard and with passion at all times. I think the wins and losses will take care of themselves,” said O’Neill. The 46-year-old was formally introduced on Wednesday after media reports have been swirling since the weekend that he had won the job to replace Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens, the NBA’s all-time leader in coaching wins, was fired by Toronto in April. “With Kevin, we feel we will get our organization back on track to our ultimate goal of an NBA championship,” said Raptors General Manager Glen Grunwald.