Pistons close to hiring Lawrence Frank as their new coach

Frank served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for three seasons under Head Coach Kevin O'Neill. Frank first worked with O'Neill as a staff assistant at Marquette University in 1992 and during his tenure, helped lead the Marquette Warriors to two NCAA tournament berths and a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1994.

Frank then spent three seasons as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Grizzlies under Brian Hill. Hill would later serve as Frank's assistant with the New Jersey Nets. His responsibilities with the Grizzlies included scouting upcoming opponents as well as practice and bench coaching duties.

Frank became the interim head coach of the New Jersey Nets on January 26, 2004, succeeding Byron Scott, after serving as an assistant coach with the team since the 2000-01 season. He officially became the head coach of the Nets on June 21, 2004.

Frank began his NBA coaching career by achieving a 13–0 record from January 27 to February 24, 2004, which set a new NBA record for the most consecutive wins by a head coach to begin a coaching career. The 13-game winning streak was also the longest winning streak of any coach in any of the four major professional sports to begin a career. During the streak, the Nets won six consecutive games on the road, which gave Frank the mark for the most wins by a head coach on the road at the outset of his coaching career.

The Nets picked up Lawrence's option on June 6, 2006, and added a two-year extension on July 23, 2007. He was relieved of his duties on November 29, 2009, after the Nets began the season with an 0-16 record