Wizards fire head coach Eddie Jordan after 1-10 start

November 24, 12:31 PMWashington Wizards ExaminerGeorge Panagakos

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Without Head Coach Eddie Jordan, where will the Wizards stand?
(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Washington Wizards tenured head coach Eddie Jordan was released earlier this morning after leading the Wizards to tie a franchise-worst 1-10 start to the season.  Ed Tapscott, former Director of Player Development, has been named as the new interim head coach while the Wizards organization tries to figure out the loose ends.

Despite year after year of unfortunate team injuries, Coach Jordan had led the Wizards to four straight playoff appearances, and had signed a contract extension before the season began. 

Without star players Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood, one might ask whether or not it is fair to fire Coach Jordan after all of the success he has had with the club.  And now, as the Wizards move on with Tapscott at helm, one can only wonder how much worse things could get.

Perhaps Arenas was right when he suggested it wouldn't be the worst thing if the Wizards ended up in last place, but the thought of that statement, regardless of the sentiment, makes one wonder who knew Coach Jordan was on his way out. 

Despite Arenas' nagging injuries, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld re-signed him as a franchise player along with Antawn Jamison to insure the nucleus of Arenas, Jamison, and Caron Butler this year.  Now that Grunfeld has let Coach Jordan go, the floodgates are going to open.  Should the Wizards have re-signed Arenas, despite his reoccurring injuries?

Here's a great quotation from a post made by Oly Sandor over at Hoops Vibe:

You do remember the Wizards before Arenas? Washington never made the playoffs. They fired His Airness and boasted about center Gheorghe Muresan starring in a movie with Billy Crystal called My Giant.

Regardless, if Grunfeld is willing to fire Coach Jordan, I don't think anyone on the Wizards is safe. 

Here's a look at how the Wizards did in their first 11 games of the season.  Will Tapscott be able to turn things around, or should we start getting ready for March Madness?

Not since 1966 have the Wizards, then known as the Baltimore Bullets, started a season so poorly. ESPN released an article at about the same time I wrote this one which highlights Baltimore's season in which they finished 20-61.  Yuck. 

For a complete look at all of the names and seasons this franchise has held, check out Basketball-Reference.