Pistons fire Head Coach John Kuester

The Pistons fired their embattled coach John Kuester, four days after new owner Tom Gores completed an agreement to buy the team from Karen Davidson. Kuester was 57-107 over two seasons with Detroit, which failed to make the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since missing the playoffs three straight times from 1993-95. This past season was a dreary one, with the proud franchise making more news for internal squabbling than any on-court accomplishments.

Kuester was hired in 2009 after two seasons as an assistant with Cleveland. He was also a member of Larry Brown’s championship-winning staff in 2004 with the Pistons, but his familiarity with at least some of the Detroit players was of little help as the team began to look increasingly dysfunctional.

Richard Hamilton and Kuester had a falling out that sent the veteran to the bench for most of a seven-week stretch. The two appeared to be on better terms toward the end of last season, but there was plenty of other drama.

Every healthy player started at least one game in 2010-11, and all except Ben Gordon received at least one DNP-Coach’s Decision. Kuester benched point guard Rodney Stuckey barely a week into the season and benched him again with just over a week to go when there was friction between the two.