Suns Hire Jeff Hornacek As Next Headcoach

The Phoenix Suns will open a new chapter of the franchise next season after hiring former NBA All-Star Jeff Hornacek as their new head coach, a reliable league source reported on Sunday.

The Suns agreed to hire the 50-year old Hornacek, finally landing a head coach after experiencing instability in the coaching ranks last season.

Arvin Gentry, who guided the Suns to the Western Conference finals in 2010, started the 2012-2013 season as the team's head coach but both parties decided to part ways halfway into their regular-season campaign.

With Gentry's departure, the Suns tapped former NBA shooting guard Lindsey Hunter to assume the head coaching role in an interim basis.

The Suns finished their season with a mediocre 25-57 record, leading to the ouster of general manager Lance Blanks.

Ryan McDonough, who served as an assistant to Boston Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, was hired by team president Lon Babby to be the Suns' new GM.

McDonough then proceeded to open interviews for the vacant head coaching job and Hornacek emerged as the top pick among the candidates.

After serving as a key figure in the Utah Jazz' sideline for six years, Hornacek will be bringing his solid coaching experience to the table along with his knack in developing young players.

Hornacek, who was responsible for the rapid growth of some of Jazz's young stars such as Paul Milsap and Derrick Favors, is seen as a perfect fit for the Suns as they try to steer their rebuilding plan in right direction following the departure of All-Star guard Steve Nash.

The Suns hold the no.5 and no.30 pick in next month's NBA Draft, but most of all, they have enough cap room to sign an All-Star caliber player to a max contract this offseason.

Drafted 46^th overall by the Suns in 1986, Hornacek became a lethal third weapon for the Suns along with Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson.

He made his lone All-Star appearance in after averaging 20 points per game for the Suns in 1991. The following seasons, he was included in a trade package that would help the Suns land All-Star forward Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers.   

In spite averaging career high 6.9 assists per game as a point guard, Hornacek didn't find success with the Sixers. He was eventually traded to the Utah Jazz, where he assumed his natural shooting guard role and became a reliable offensive weapon during the Jazz' playoff runs in the 90s.