Bickerstaff named Bobcats' first GM and head coach

Jet, Nov 3, 2003

As the Charlotte Bobcats approach the team's inaugural season, the NBA's new expansion has hired Bernie Bickerstaff as its first general manager and head coach.

Bickerstaff, 58, has nearly 30 years of NBA experience, with 10 seasons as an NBA head coach (compiling a record of 338-348), seven seasons as an NBA general manager and president and 12 years as an assistant coach. Among his many accomplishments, Bickerstaff has stood out as a leader who built winning organizations from the ground up.

The Kentucky native spent most of last season as general manager of the WNBA's Charlotte Sting. Bobcats executive vice president Ed Tapscott believes Bickerstaff, who orchestrated turnarounds in Washington, Denver and Seattle, is the right man to get the Bobcats off to a strong start when the NBA team begins play in the 2004-05 season.

"He has always been a type of person who has moved teams that are in the worse shape, and improved them dramatically in a few years' time," Tapscott said.

The 1986-87 NBA Coach of the Year wants to coach "as long as it's fun," but said he and Tapscott have an understanding that he could stop down as coach and retain the general manager's title.

Bickerstaff, who will hire his staff next spring, was one of five candidates to interview for the general manager job. Tapscott said hiring Bickerstaff as both coach and general manager helps ensure the Bobcats have unity of purpose.

"Here's a way I can make sure the coach and the GM get along," Tapscott said.