Pelicans: Why Jacque Vaughn is a good choice to replace Stan Van Gundy

The New Orleans Pelicans may be getting close to hiring a new head coach, as rumors have surfaced that they are very interested in Jacque Vaughn.

I wrote about the qualities the Pelicans should look for in the next head coach, and Vaughn meets many of them, as he is a young coach with experience who has a reputation as a good communicator.

The Pelicans still have internal options to weigh and are also reportedly looking at assistant coach Charles Lee, who could be a great choice to pair with Zion Williamson for the long term.

But Vaughn is a quality candidate who has earned a chance at another head coaching gig after paying his dues as an assistant.

The Pelicans next head coach needs to be young

Jacque Vaughn is just 46 years old, which is something that will appeal to the Pelicans.

Stan Van Gundy’s grumpy style of coaching obviously didn’t vibe with the young group, which was one of the reasons he was let go this offseason in a move that was somewhat surprising.

I thought SVG would get more time, but David Griffin clearly identified that the fit wasn’t there and smartly moved on.

Griffin is now on the hot seat himself, which is why he needs to get this coaching decision right and soon. I am glad the Pelicans pass on re-treads like Rick Carlisle and Jason Kidd, as Carlisle is not the right type of guy and Kidd has his own issues that I don’t want to get into, but doesn’t necessarily fit the culture Griffin wants to build. But boy does he fit the one in Dallas!

Anyway, Vaughn is a young coach who can grow with the team, which is what the Pelicans want, as they are trying to build some long-term stability, but there are things other than age that make Vaughn a good choice.