O’Neill dismissed as coach of the Raptors

Toronto posted just a 33-49 record in 2003-04 and failed to qualify for the playoffs in O’Neill’s first campaign with the team. He took over for Lenny Wilkens in June of 2003.

"This season fell well short of our expectations, and while the blame for that certainly does not rest on Kevin O’Neill and his staff alone, we felt that the team’s lack of success on the court, and the fact that we are committed to providing the general manager with every opportunity to succeed, necessitated this change," said interim general manager Jack McCloskey.

O’Neill, who had one year remaining on a two-year contract, joined the Raptors after serving as an assistant coach with both the New York Knicks and the Detroit Pistons. It marked his first coaching experience in the NBA after college stints with Northwestern, Tennessee and Marquette.

In addition, assistants Tony Brown, Bob Beyer, Jim Sann and Ron Oliver were also relieved of their duties.

"This franchise has everything required to build a team capable of contending for an NBA championship," McCloskey added. "We have a core group of talented players, committed ownership, terrific fans that support our team win or lose, and a great arena in a great city. There has been considerable interest in our general manager’s position from the type of quality candidates that you want. We’re going to bring in an outstanding general manager and a coaching staff that is going to get this team back in the direction that it was two years ago. I’m very excited about the future for the Toronto Raptors."