http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nuggets/ article/0,1299,DRMN_20_3429495,00.html Nuggets fire Bzdelik By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News December 28, 2004 The Denver Nuggets have fired head coach Jeff Bzdelik and replaced him on an interim basis with assistant Michael Cooper. Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe and Cooper confirmed the change this morning. The Nuggets have called an 11:30 a.m. MST press conference to make it official. "It came out of left field," Cooper said. Rumors have swirled since late last season about the possible ouster of Bzdelik, hired before the 2002-03 season. His Nuggets, projected to one of the top teams in the Western Conference, are 13-15, having lost six consecutive games and eight of their last nine. But injuries have been a problem lately. Star forward Carmelo Anthony has missed the past five games due to a sprained ankle. And star forward Kenyon Martin also sat out Monday's game, a 104-101 loss at Golden State. "We've had a third of the season," Vandweghe said. "I know we've had injuries, but I just don't think we've been trending well. Jeff worked hard, but sometimes a change of voice is necessary." Vandeweghe gave Bzdelik news of the change with an early-morning phone call. "He thanked me for the opportunity and said he was sorry that it didn't work out," Vandeweghe said. Bzdelik went 17-65 in 2002-03 before steering the Nuggets to a surprising 43-39 mark last season and leading them to the first round of the playoffs. However, Vandeweghe and Bzdelik never seemed to get along. Bzdelik leaves Denver with 73-119 mark. "I'm obviously hurt for coach Bzdelik and his family," said Cooper, who learned of the move from Vandeweghe about 1 ½ hours before the scheduled press conference. "It's a very difficult situation." Cooper, a former NBA defensive star with the Los Angeles Lakers, is in his first season as a Nuggets assistant. As head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, he won titles in 2001 and 2002. "He will be able to help us with defense and the running game," said Vandeweghe, who said Cooper will be evaluated as the season progresses and will be considered to be permanent job. [email protected] or 303-892-5125 --

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