Mike Schuler is the new coach of the Los Angeles Clippers and expects big changes - he wants the team to win right away.
"It's a big day in my life to have the opportunity to coach this team," Schuler said at a news conference. "So far this year, there have been seven coaching jobs open in the NBA. I got the best job, there's no doubt about it."There is just no reason why the Los Angeles Clippers won't have a very good team. We're talking right away."
Schuler, the NBA's coach of the year three seasons ago, said he signed a four-year contract with the Clippers. He succeeds Don Casey, who had a 41-85 record in 1 1/2 seasons as the club's head coach.
Last month, the Clippers fired Casey, who had a one-year contract with an option for another year.
The Clippers fired Casey after a 30-52 record, their best in four years. The team last made the playoffs in 1976, when it was playing in Buffalo.
"I'll be very disappointed if we don't make the playoffs next year," said Schuler, 49. "We have the talent to do that. It's a versatile team. It's a team that can do a lot of things. It's a team that hasn't come close to reaching its potential."
"Anyone that knows anything about Mike Schuler will agree that he's a quality coach," general manager Elgin Baylor said.
Schuler was the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers for slightly more than 2 1/2 seasons. He was fired on Feb. 18, 1989 in what reportedly had become a personality conflict with certain players.