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Vandeweghe to take over as Nets coach

New Jersey Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe will coach the team for the rest of the season. The organization officially announced the news Tuesday morning.

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Vandeweghe

After convincing veteran coach Del Harris to join his staff, Vandeweghe met with Nets president Rod Thorn late Monday afternoon and accepted the job replacing Lawrence Frank on the team's bench.

Frank was fired as the Nets coach on Sunday, before the team matched the NBA's worst start ever at 0-17.

Yahoo! Sports first reported Vandeweghe was leaning toward accepting the job with Harris on his staff.

Vandeweghe's coaching experience has been limited to serving as an assistant for the Dallas Mavericks. Harris has previously served similar associate head coaching roles in Chicago and Dallas.

Vandeweghe's contract is expected to be finalized in the next couple days. Harris will arrive in New Jersey on Wednesday.

Vandeweghe won't make his debut until Friday against the Charlotte Bobcats, a move that will allow two things for the new coach: First, he will have a day to practice on Thursday with the Nets. And second, he could avoid having the record-setting 18th straight loss on his résumé. Assistant coach Tom Barrise will coach the Nets against Dallas on Wednesday.

Vandeweghe's only coaching experience came with two years as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks.

There had been a great deal of tension between Frank and Vandeweghe over the past two years, with sources saying Frank resented the GM's intrusions into his practices and locker room. Sources say Vandeweghe wanted to replace Frank last season, but team president Rod Thorn resisted the change.