Hawks part ways with Mike Woodson

[Roy Hobbs]

he Hawks parted ways with Mike Woodson Friday morning, ending his coaching tenure with the franchise after six seasons.

Woodson was informed in a Friday morning meeting with Hawks' management that that he would not be offered a new contract after leading the Hawks to three straight playoff appearances in his final three seasons.

The team is expected to make an official announcement this afternoon.

Woodson's contract expired Monday, forcing the Hawks to make a quick decision. Woodson is now free to explore his options with a half dozen coaching vacancies around the league, while the Hawks embark on a search of their own for his replacement.

Woodson led the Hawks to 37, 47 and 53 wins in his final three seasons and back-to-back appearances in the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they were swept both times. The Hawks won just 13 games in his first season, 2004-05, but improved their record in each of his five seasons after that. He finished with a 206-286 record (.419).

Woodson's 11-18 postseason record, though, is what ultimately cost him his job with the Hawks. He guided the Hawks to their first playoff appearance in more than a decade three seasons ago, when the Hawks pushed the eventual champion Boston Celtics to seven games in a first-round series.

Link.

It's not really a shock, based upon some of the issues he had with Josh Smith and others.  Still, there's no denying that the Hawks got significantly better under Woodson, and I'm a bit surprised that he got let go after leading the team to the #3 seed.

[PosImpos]

Well, if you just looked at their record you'd say he's done a great job, but after their second round exit this season it's clear he doesn't have control of the team.  It's hard to preside over the most lopsided 4 game sweep in the history of the playoffs (between a 2 and 3 seed, nonetheless) and retain your job.

It was the right decision, probably in the best interests of both parties.  He can go coach a team that will actually listen to him.

[Lucky17]

What's the saying: you can't fire the players.

You can choose not to resign them, though. That Hawks team has gone as far as it could go, I think.

BTW, I heard they submitted a QO for Childress. Don't necessarily think that means he's coming back, but if (actually, when?) Johnson goes, there's going to be some minutes available at SF for him.

[FatjohnReturns]

Woodson did a good job. His firing was undeserved. Woodson doesnt have the players on the roster to stop Howard. You could say the same about the Bobcats.

Smith,Horford and Zaza is just about as effecitve playing Dwight as BigZ and Varejoe trying to stop Dwight in 2009. Fortunetly for us with have the players.

Orlando was the worst matchup for the Hawks. Woodson did a good job and this is simply management letting him hang for failure in the front office.

[Celtic]

Sucks for him, he completely turned that team around and then they quit on him. Someone else will now be able to step in and enjoy his work, unless Johnson walks.

[csfansince60s]

It says a lot for him as a coach that he got the Hawks to the point where we feared to play them, of all the playoff teams.

From a Csfan viewpoint, glad he's gone. From a fairness viewpoint, he got porked and deserved better. I can't help but dislike the Hawks as much as any other team except the Fakers.

[Who]

Wow, that is a strange move. I thought Woodson did a poor job there for his first four seasons and deserved to be fired due to that but his team have performed very well for the past two seasons.

That said, I think it's a good decision. Even though I don't think his recent performance deserved his dismissal ... I also don't think he is a good enough coach to lead the Hawks into this next stage. A different coach can help to create a better future for Atlanta.

[BballTim]

  I think the fact that it took us 7 games to beat the Hawks in 08 was fools gold, and put too high of expectations on that team.

[Chris]

Wow, that is a strange move. I thought Woodson did a poor job there for his first four seasons and deserved to be fired due to that but his team have performed very well for the past two seasons.

That said, I think it's a good decision. Even though I don't think his recent performance deserved his dismissal ... I also don't think he is a good enough coach to lead the Hawks into this next stage. A different coach can help to create a better future for Atlanta.

It just shows, you cannot put on such an embarrassing show in the playoffs if you want to keep your job.  It was downright pathetic the way they went out.

[Fafnir]

He should have been fired long ago.

Your team can't win when they despise the coach.

[incoherent]

The players on the Hawks will quit on any coach they hire.

Their players are prima-donas.

[LB3533]

Joe Johnson cost Mike Woodson his job & himself some cash.

[Brendan]

That team is a collection of talent. They happen to matchup against the C's really well, but I don't think its a good team. Their offense is all ISO for JJ and really is not on the level where you can run that - Horford and Smith are both PFs. Marvin would be nice wing off the bench, but he's not starting material. Bibby is OLD.

The GM should be fired, and the team should be moved to Seattle.

[wdleehi]

Rumor is they are looking cheap for the new head coach.