Washington Wizards Coaches: The Definitive Ranking

Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

9. Doug Collins: 2001-03

74-90

Oh, the Jordan years. What were we thinking?

8. Wes Unseld: 1988-94

202-345, 2-3 playoffs

Wes Unseld hasn’t played a game in 34 years, but they still wear his jersey in DC. Next to Abe Pollin, he’s the most significant figure in this franchise’s history. He was the cornerstone player for the Bullets’ glory years, Washington’s head coach for seven seasons, and the general manager for five more.

Well… one out of three ain’t bad. Unseld’s tenure as the Bullets’ bench boss actually started pretty well – after Kevin Loughery started 8-19 in 1987-88, Unseld was able to get the Bullets into the playoffs, where they’d drop a very hard-fought first round series to the Bad Boy Pistons. Unseld coached six more years in Washington, and never again posted a winning record.

Later, as GM, he’d manage to trade away Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber AND Ben Wallace before any of them hit their primes. But he drafted God Shammgod! We can never stay mad at you, Wes.

7. Eddie Jordan: 2003-08

197-224, 8-18 playoffs

My dad and I first started going to Washington Wizards games regularly in 2005. At that time, the person who sat in front of us in section 113 was a guy named Leon who would drive down to the games from Bowie, Maryland. Leon was a nice guy, but he absolutely couldn’t stand two people: Antonio Daniels (I can’t explain that one either) and then-Wizards coach Eddie Jordan. I was 11 years old then, and viewed sports with a generally uncritical eye: if the Wizards won, hurray, if the Wizards lost, sadness. The Wizards were decent then, so I had no qualms with Eddie Jordan.

But in time, Leon’s steadfast hatred of Eddie Jordan rubbed off on me, and I think it played a small part in helping me become the snarky, manic-depressive NBA fan that I am today.

Eddie Jordan’s transgressions were thus: he inherited the most talented Washington team since the 1970s, and only won one playoff series. His teams scorned defense and played hero ball offense. The Eddie Jordan era will forever be synonymous with missed potential – much of his misfortune was not his fault, but he never was able to improve the situation.

Eddie Jordan did less with more than just about any coach you’ll find. Goodbye forever, Eddie.

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