Doug Collins To Resign As 76ers Coach At End Of Season, Sources Say

Doug Collins plans to resign as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers at the end of this season, sources close to the team are saying.

Collins has said he wants to stay with the team in some other capacity, possibly a front-office position or advisory role. The Sixers had already picked up the option on his contract for the 2013-12 season.

The team has endured a rough season, standing in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, four games out of a playoff spot. The future doesn’t look brighter for the 76ers, which invested much into the Andrew Bynum trade that blew up in the team’s face.

Bynum had bone bruises in both of his knees, but said in training camp that he expected to play. Instead he remained on the sidelines all season, until he underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery in both knees in March, officially ending his season.

With a healthy Bynum, the Sixers were expected to content for the Atlantic Division, but now appear to be solidly behind both the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, both teams on the upswing. It’s expected to be at least another season or two before the Sixers can pull back into contention.

Doug Collins had made it clear that he didn’t want to be part of a long rebuilding effort. Once an All-Star player Philadelphia, Collins returned to the team in 2010 and led them to the playoffs in both of his first two years, including a first-round upset of the Chicago Bulls last year.

Doug Collins has made no official statement on the resignation reports, though his agent has denied the rumors.

“He’s here for another year, at least,” agent John Langel said. “He’s the coach and we’ll see what happens.”

But privately, Doug Collins has reportedly already told the 76ers of his plans to resign as coach.