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Report: Joerger, Vaughn, Hammon among early Pacers HC candidates

Mike Ehrmann / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Indiana Pacers have begun searching for Nate McMillan's successor. San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon and former bench bosses Dave Joerger and Jacque Vaughn headline the expected interview group for the vacant head coaching role, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Hammon, a six-time WNBA All-Star before joining Gregg Popovic's Spurs staff in 2014, is widely regarded as the frontrunner to break the NBA's gender barrier for coaching. The 43-year-old has the distinction of being the first woman in NBA history hired as a full-time assistant coach, to serve as head coach of a Summer League team, and to earn an interview for a head coaching position when the Milwaukee Bucks reached out in 2018.

The 46-year-old Joerger has six seasons of head coaching experience split evenly between the Memphis Grizzlies (2013-16) and Sacramento Kings (2016-19) for a combined coaching record of 245-247 (.498).

Vaughn previously posted a 58-158 (.269) record as the Orlando Magic's head coach from 2012-15. More recently, the 45-year-old served as the Brooklyn Nets' interim coach over their last 10 games of 2019-20 after they dismissed Kenny Atkinson and just before the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season.

With the Nets' surprise hiring of Steve Nash last week, Vaughn returned to his previous role with the team, making him the highest-paid assistant coach in the NBA.

The other current assistant coaches the Pacers will reportedly request permission to interview for their top job include:

  • Dan Craig, Heat
  • Pat Delany, Magic
  • Darvin Ham, Bucks
  • Will Hardy, Spurs
  • Charles Lee, Bucks
  • Jamahl Mosley, Mavericks
  • Chris Quinn, Heat
  • Stephen Silas, Mavericks
  • Nathan Tibbetts, Trail Blazers
  • Ime Udoka, 76ers
  • David Vanterpool, Timberwolves

While McMillan did lead the Pacers to playoff appearances in each of his four seasons as head coach, the team fell in the first round every year. The former defensive standout finished with a 183-136 (.574) regular-season record in Indiana.

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