Liberty won't bring back Laimbeer
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Liberty will not renew the contract of Bill Laimbeer, ending his tenure as the team's general manager and head coach.
In two seasons under Laimbeer, the Liberty posted a 26-42 record (.382). This past season, New York went 15-19 and lost a tiebreaker to Chicago for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"We thank Bill for his hard work and contributions to the New York Liberty," said Allan Houston, the New York Knicks' assistant general manager who also oversees Liberty basketball operations. "The Liberty are a proud original member of the WNBA, with a loyal and passionate fan base. We will begin our search immediately to secure a general manager and coach to help us move forward and reach our ultimate goal of a WNBA championship."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Laimbeer was brought into New York two years ago to replace John Whisenant, who had a 34-34 mark in two seasons with the club.
From 2002-09, Laimbeer served as general manager and head coach of the Detroit Shock -- the franchise is now based in Tulsa -- and captured WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008. The Shock posted a 137-93 record during his tenure.
A 14-year NBA veteran, Laimbeer was a member of the Detroit Pistons teams that won back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990.