For the past three years, Philadelphia 76ers‘ assistant coach Sam Cassell has been a staple on the coaching staff. He has helped guide the Sixers to two playoff trips so far and is preparing for what could be the team’s best chance at a championship in his time.
As has consistently been the case, however, other teams are continuing to look at Cassell as a candidate for their available coaching spots. The latest team interested in Cassell appears to be the Temple Owls, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.
This news comes nearly a week after the university announced that they would be parting ways with the then-head coach and former Sixer, Aaron Mckie, who coached the Owls for four seasons.
During that time, the once-storied university finished with a record above .500 just once without a single taste of the postseason. While living up to the coaches of years past, such as John Chaney and, more recently Fran Dunphy, would have been an unfair expectation, it’s clear that it was time for both the Owls and McKie to move on.
For Philadelphia, losing a coach of Cassell’s caliber would be concerning, to say the least. Cassell has a strong working relationship with several Sixers players, most notably with the team’s budding star, Tyrese Maxey. Losing him would frankly be a bit of a gut punch though it is a likely outcome at some point.
As far as Cassell’s interest in the position, Scotto states that, currently, Cassell’s sole focus is preparing the Sixers to compete for the upcoming playoffs in hopes of securing the team’s first championship in 50 years. Once the off-season comes around, that may change, but for now, Cassell is all in with the Sixers.
