Wizards sack coach Jordan after 1-10 start

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Washington Wizards fired head coach Eddie Jordan Monday following the team's 1-10 start to the season.

Ed Tapscott, in his second season with the Wizards as director of player development, was named the interim head coach.

"At 1-10, it was an unacceptable record obviously and we felt a change needed to be made," Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld told a Verizon Center news conference.

"We need to do things a little bit different. These things are always very difficult, especially since Eddie and I have become very good friends over the last five years."

Washington coaches were optimistic the team could make a run deep into the playoffs but injuries to veteran starters Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood before the season had Jordan scrambling to adjust.

The Wizards, off to their worst start since 1966 when the franchise was in Baltimore, are averaging just 94.6 points per game while giving up 103.5.

Washington lost to New York 122-117 Saturday despite the Knicks having only eight players available due to trades they had made that had not been completed.

During his five-plus seasons with the Wizards, Jordan compiled a 197-224 record. The club has made the playoffs in each of the last four years but advanced past the first round only once.

Tapscott's first game as coach will be Tuesday when the Wizards host the Golden State Warriors.

"I want to preach accountability and unity on this team," said Tapscott, who has never been an NBA head coach. "We all have to be accountable for what we do. We have to get better defensively.

"The numbers say that. Our performance says that. We need to play with a greater physical presence. We need to guard the rim, guard the lane and be a more physical team.

"It doesn't mean I'm going to try and turn greyhounds into Clydesdales."

(Writing by Steve Ginsburg; editing by Miles Evans)