Nets promote Kevin Ollie to interim head coach

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

A disappointing 8-23 stretch during the Brooklyn Nets' 2023-2024 season prompted the team's front office to relieve Jacque Vaughn of his head coaching duties this week.

One day later, the team elevated assistant coach Kevin Ollie to the interim coaching role. Ollie is in his first season with the Nets.

Prior to joining the Nets, Ollie coached at Overtime Elite, which is a start-up basketball league that provides an alternative for top basketball prospects ages 16 to 20 by compensating athletes with money to be used as pay or scholarship money if they don't turn pro.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Head coach Kevin Ollie of the Connecticut Huskies is seen during the game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Feb. 22, 2018, in Highland Heights, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Ollie also had a long stint with his alma mater, the UConn Huskies, where he won the NCAA Division I men's basketball national championship in 2014. Ollie spent more than a decade in the NBA, playing for numerous teams.

2023-2024 NBA SEASON SURGES AHEAD AFTER ALL-STAR BREAK: HERE'S WHAT TO KNOW

The 51-year-old coach will now be tasked with turning around a team that has a 21-33 record and is in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. The Nets dropped five of their past six games, including a 50-point loss to the Boston Celtics in their last game.

Vaughn's time in Brooklyn ended with a 71-68 record. The Nets advanced to the postseason two times under Vaughn's guidance. But he failed to win a playoff game as the Nets head coach, going 0-8 in two postseason series.

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn (AP Photo/John Munson)

"To Joe Tsai, Clara