Most Surprising Coach Firings

You don't have to be on the hot seat to get burned.

Golden State Warriors Fire Coach Mark Jackson - The Golden State Warriors' firing of head coach Mark Jackson on Tuesday shocked many NBA fans and players alike, and for good reason. Although he produced question marks after getting rid of two assistant coaches two weeks apart in April and there were rumored rifts between him and Golden State’s front office, Jackson led the Warriors to an impressive 51-win season. The Dubs finished as a sixth seed in the rugged Western Conference, and they came within seconds of defeating the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of their quarterfinal series. Perhaps Clippers coach Doc Rivers described Jackson’s termination best. “Things are crazy…” Rivers told ESPN, “Mark Jackson gets a team to multiple playoffs for the first time in a thousand years and gets fired.” Here, BET.com documents sports’ ...

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Golden State Warriors Fire Coach Mark Jackson - The Golden State Warriors' firing of head coach Mark Jackson on Tuesday shocked many NBA fans and players alike, and for good reason. Although he produced question marks after getting rid of two assistant coaches two weeks apart in April and there were rumored rifts between him and Golden State’s front office, Jackson led the Warriors to an impressive 51-win season. The Dubs finished as a sixth seed in the rugged Western Conference, and they came within seconds of defeating the No. 3 Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 of their quarterfinal series. Perhaps Clippers coach Doc Rivers described Jackson’s termination best. “Things are crazy…” Rivers told ESPN, “Mark Jackson gets a team to multiple playoffs for the first time in a thousand years and gets fired.” Here, BET.com documents sports’ ...

Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys - Let’s see…all Jimmy Johnson did was coach the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. That apparently wasn’t enough for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who constantly engaged Johnson in a power struggle over team decisions. When Jones felt like Johnson snubbed him about the Cowboys selection in the 1992 NFL Draft, he reportedly expressed interest in Barry Switzer as the team’s next coach. It was enough of a memory for Johnson to forcefully quit in March 1994. Surprising that two Lombardi trophies couldn’t make this fiery pair see eye-to-eye. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys - Let’s see…all Jimmy Johnson did was coach the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl championships in the 1992 and 1993 seasons. That apparently wasn’t enough for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, who constantly engaged Johnson in a power struggle over team decisions. When Jones felt like Johnson snubbed him about the Cowboys selection in the 1992 NFL Draft, he reportedly expressed interest in Barry Switzer as the team’s next coach. It was enough of a memory for Johnson to forcefully quit in March 1994. Surprising that two Lombardi trophies couldn’t make this fiery pair see eye-to-eye. (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears - The Chicago Bears went 10-6 in the 2012 season, but failed to make the playoffs. It was enough for management to fire coach Lovie Smith, to the huge surprise of Bears players, one of whom — Brian Urlacher — said the following to ESPN: “You win 10 games....we didn’t finish up the way we wanted to. It’s just tough for me to really figure out right now. But Lovie is a great coach and I’m sure he’ll get hired pretty quick.” Smith led the Bears to the Super Bowl in the 2006-07 season and posted an 81-63 eight-year record in Chicago. Where's the love?(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears - The Chicago Bears went 10-6 in the 2012 season, but failed to make the playoffs. It was enough for management to fire coach Lovie Smith, to the huge surprise of Bears players, one of whom — Brian Urlacher — said the following to ESPN: “You win 10 games....we didn’t finish up the way we wanted to. It’s just tough for me to really figure out right now. But Lovie is a great coach and I’m sure he’ll get hired pretty quick.” Smith led the Bears to the Super Bowl in the 2006-07 season and posted an 81-63 eight-year record in Chicago. Where's the love?(Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles - The Philadelphia Eagles dropped the axe on the franchise’s most-winningest coach, Andy Reid, after a 4-12 failure of a 2012 season. Reid, though, led the Eagles to a 130-93-1 record and sported a 10-9 postseason mark, which included a tough Super Bowl XXXIX loss in 2005, during his 14-year tenure as their coach. As successful as Reid was, it was surprising to see him get the pink slip. Eagle grounded.(Photo: Doug Benc/Getty Images)

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Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles - The Philadelphia Eagles dropped the axe on the franchise’s most-winningest coach, Andy Reid, after a 4-12 failure of a 2012 season. Reid, though, led the Eagles to a 130-93-1 record and sported a 10-9 postseason mark, which included a tough Super Bowl XXXIX loss in 2005, during his 14-year tenure as their coach. As successful as Reid was, it was surprising to see him get the pink slip. Eagle grounded.(Photo: Doug Benc/Getty Images)

Maurice Cheeks, Detroit Pistons - The Detroit Pistons were 21-29 in this 2013-14 season in February, when they informed coach Mo Cheeks that his services were no longer needed. Besides Pistons like Brandon Jennings and Charlie Villanueva being miffed, Detroit had just hired Mo Cheeks in June 2013. Crazy they didn’t let him finish one season, especially considering that the Eastern Conference was weak enough for them to make a playoff push. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Maurice Cheeks, Detroit Pistons - The Detroit Pistons were 21-29 in this 2013-14 season in February, when they informed coach Mo Cheeks that his services were no longer needed. Besides Pistons like Brandon Jennings and Charlie Villanueva being miffed, Detroit had just hired Mo Cheeks in June 2013. Crazy they didn’t let him finish one season, especially considering that the Eastern Conference was weak enough for them to make a playoff push. (Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

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Dusty Baker, Cincinnati Reds - Dusty Baker’s Reds had a 90-72 record in 2013, ending the season with six losses, including a wild-card playoff game. The Reds still fired Baker, much to the shock of the veteran coach. "It's going to take a couple of days just to pack my stuff up,'' Baker told USA Today. "I wasn't ready for this. I really wasn't. I thought I'd still be here.'' Baker went 509-463 in his six seasons with Cincinnati. Damn shame...not to mention a surprise. (Photo: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox - Yes, the Boston Red Sox’s 2011 collapse, one that saw them lose 20 of 27 September games and blow a nine-game wild-card lead, was ugly. But under manager Terry Francona, the Red Sox did win two World Series championships. So, the nod to remove Francona was surprising and some would say flat out wrong. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Terry Francona, Boston Red Sox - Yes, the Boston Red Sox’s 2011 collapse, one that saw them lose 20 of 27 September games and blow a nine-game wild-card lead, was ugly. But under manager Terry Francona, the Red Sox did win two World Series championships. So, the nod to remove Francona was surprising and some would say flat out wrong. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets, Coach Lionel Hollins Agree to Deal - The Brooklyn Nets got their new head coach. Late Wednesday night, the Nets and Lionel Hollins agreed to a deal that could be worth as much as four years and $20 million, ESPN reported. "We have a nice nucleus to build with," Hollins told ESPN. "We want to be better than last year, and obviously that's going to take work. We're going to work hard, be aggressive and we're never going to quit." Hollins last led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 56-win season and trip to the NBA's Western Conference Finals in 2012-13, before being controversially fired over alleged basketball differences of opinion. He replaces Jason Kidd, who left the Nets to coach the Milwaukee Bucks via a trade between the two organizations earlier this week.(Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Lionel Hollins, Memphis Grizzlies - Lionel Hollins’ coaching contract wasn’t renewed after a 2012-13 season that saw him lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 56-win season and the Western Conference Finals. Wait...huh? Hollins would later comment that he felt “wronged” and that “life isn’t fair.” He’s right, life isn't fair, but it sure is full of surprises. This was one. (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Billy Martin, New York Yankees - In the beginning of the late Billy Martin’s managing tenure with the New York Yankees, it was surprising when late owner George Steinbrenner fired him in 1979…but not as surprising when the Boss proceeded to hire him and fire him three more times in 1983, 1985 and 1988. Unbelievable! (Photo: Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

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Billy Martin, New York Yankees - In the beginning of the late Billy Martin’s managing tenure with the New York Yankees, it was surprising when late owner George Steinbrenner fired him in 1979…but not as surprising when the Boss proceeded to hire him and fire him three more times in 1983, 1985 and 1988. Unbelievable! (Photo: Ronald C. Modra/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)

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Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers - Mike Brown coached LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA-best 66 wins in 2009 and 61 victories in 2010 before being fired after back-to-back playoff exits. The Cavs championship dreams ended in the Conference Finals in 2009 and Conference Semifinals in 2010. Why was his firing so surprising? Partly because he was successful with the Cavs…and Cleveland brought him back as coach this season. (Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)