Daly Is Already Back in Coaching : Pro basketball: Less than a month after resigning from the Pistons, he takes job with Nets.

Chuck Daly, coach of the U.S. Olympic team, accepted the New Jersey Nets’ coaching job Thursday.

“There’s a blend of youth and a certain amount of maturity,” Daly said of the Nets. “I think they have a chance to be a championship contender.”

Daly resigned from the Detroit Pistons on May 5 after nine seasons, nine playoff appearances and two NBA championships.

The Nets, while making the playoffs this season under Coach Bill Fitch for the first time since 1986, were more noteworthy for the clashes between Fitch and starters Derrick Coleman and Chris Morris. After compiling a 40-42 record, New Jersey was eliminated in the first round by Cleveland.

Fitch also had other problems.

In December, there were reports that Jim Valvano would replace Fitch, but Net management decided not to make the change. There were other problems with rookie Kenny Anderson’s lack of playing time.

Daly, though, said he won’t let the past bother him. Not with a nucleus of talented young players.

“I come in here fresh with a new team,” Daly said. “I really don’t want to deal with anything that has transpired in the past.

“I have felt for a long time that you don’t know a player . . . until you coach him.”

He said he does not foresee his Olympic coaching post interfering with the Net job because training camp does not begin for New Jersey until early October.

General Manager Willis Reed said other candidates for the job included Net assistant Tom Newell, former Atlanta coach Mike Fratello, now a TV commentator for NBC and the Clippers, and Orlando assistant Brian Hill.

“I’m sorry we were unable to get this done a little sooner,” Reed said. “When you’re out trying to catch big fish, you have to be patient.”

Net center Sam Bowie called Daly’s hiring “a positive move.”