Pistons to interview Sampson for coach job
Detroit Pistons president Joe Dumars has received permission to interview Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, one of the top targets for the Pistons’ head coaching job, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Dumars called Milwaukee general manager John Hammond on Thursday for the chance to speak with Sampson, and a meeting is expected to be set up shortly, sources said.
Dumars also received permission to speak with Boston Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Bill Laimbeer on Thursday. Also, Detroit made contact with former Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Woodson.
Sampson, Woodson and Frank are the early frontrunners for the job, sources said.
Sampson, in his third season on the Bucks bench, had an ignoble end to his college coaching career after being hit with NCAA sanctions at Indiana and Oklahoma. After getting fired in 2008 from Indiana, he spent time as a consultant with the San Antonio Spurs and friend, Gregg Popovich, and then joined Scott Skiles’ staff with the Bucks.
Sampson has interviewed for a few jobs, including the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers, in the past year.
Frank is a candidate for the Toronto Raptors job, along with Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey.
