The Washington Wizards fired head coach Eddie Jordan as well as assistant coach Mike O'Koren yesterday after the team's abysmal 1-10 start. That left the door open for Ed Tapscott, Tufts alumnus (LA '75) and Wizards' director of player development, to assume the role of interim head coach.
Although Tapscott has never been at the helm of an NBA team, he does have plenty of experience in the front office and on the sidelines. After graduating from Tufts, he became a part-time assistant to Gary Williams, current coach at the University of Maryland, at American University in the late 1970s. Eventually he rose to become Williams' top assistant and then took over in 1982, tallying 119 victories in eight years.
Tapscott was hired as vice president of player personnel and basketball operations for the New York Knicks in the 1990s, and he later moved on to become president and chief operating officer of the Charlotte Bobcats between 2003 and 2006. He spent a year as a television analyst for Wizards games during the 2006-07 season before being recruited to join the team's front office that summer.
During his time at Tufts University, Tapscott was a solid contributor for the Brown and Blue. He was a captain during his junior and senior years on the basketball team and is eighth on Tufts' career assists list. Additionally, he spent a year after his graduation coaching the freshmen team, which he led to a 16-3 season.
Tapscott will make his NBA coaching debut tonight, when the Wizards host the Golden State Warriors.
