The Detroit Pistons will have a big decision to make this offseason in regards to head coach Dwane Casey.
The team has the worst record in the NBA and has not made the strides some think they should have this season, so many are wondering if Casey will be the next coach fired.
A loud contingency of fans thinks Casey should be let go at the end of the season, while others feel he should be given the opportunity to try and see this rebuild through with a roster that is actually built to win.
Coach Casey is under contract for next season, and so far the Detroit Pistons have not given any indication that they plan to part ways.
But if they do, one possible candidate is making a case for himself, as former Piston Jerry Stackhouse was just awarded Co-Coach of the Year honors in the SEC for his work at Vanderbilt.
🏆 JERRY. STACKHOUSE. @jerrystackhouse #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/TSF442XZKR
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) March 6, 2023
He led his squad to an 18-13 record, which was a big surprise considering they were picked to finish 12th in the SEC some preseason polls.
If the Detroit Pistons are looking for a new coach, Stackhouse does fit the profile for a few reasons.
Detroit Pistons: Jerry Stackhouse’s stock is rising
College coaches making the leap to the NBA has yielded mixed results over the years, but Jerry Stackhouse has a few things going in his favor.
He is obviously familiar with Detroit after playing five seasons there, some of the most successful of his career. He made two All-Star appearances for the Pistons and still holds their all-time single-game scoring record.
Stackhouse also already has NBA experience, as he was an assistant for both Toronto and Memphis. He was also the head coach of Toronto’s G-League affiliate, winning the championship and taking home Coach of the Year honors in 2017.
So Stack has experience working with and developing young players, which will be crucial for the next Pistons’ head coach.
That has continued at Vanderbilt, where he has a losing record overall, but is slowing building a respectable program. Some of his players are older than the ones on the Detroit Pistons, so his college experience might be considered a bonus.
This is all still in the speculative stage, as the Pistons have a head coach in Dwane Casey, but if they do decide to go a different route this offseason, Stackhouse’s experience and connections to Detroit could make him a viable candidate.