76ers Name Ayers Coach

Randy Ayers will be promoted from assistant to head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers to replace Larry Brown, Associated Press has learned.

Two team sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the 76ers had picked the former Ohio State coach and would introduce him this afternoon at a news conference.

Ayers spent the last six seasons as an assistant to Brown and was Ohio State’s coach the previous eight seasons, going 124-108. Brown resigned last month and is now the Detroit Pistons’ coach.

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Chicago guard Jay Williams broke his leg in a motorcycle accident at Chicago. Details of the accident were unclear to team officials, spokesman Tim Hallam said.

Williams was at the Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago. Hospital officials could not immediately comment on his condition.

Williams averaged 9.5 points last season.

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Former Michigan State forward Erazem Lorbek has decided to withdraw from next week’s NBA draft although he will play in Europe rather than return to school because he signed with an agent.... Russian center Pavel Podkolzine told teams that he’s pulling out of the draft after he was unable to get a firm commitment of where he would be selected.

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As expected, the Washington Wizards named Eddie Jordan, an assistant with the Eastern Conference champion New Jersey Nets, as their new coach.

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NBA Coaching Parade

*--* Teams that have changed coaches since the start of the 2002-03 season with former coach and replacement (x-interim coach, with date hired): TEAM FORMER COACH NEW COACH ATLANTA HAWKS Lon Kruger x-Terry Stotts (Dec. 26) CLEVELAND CAVALIERS John Lucas Paul Silas DETROIT PISTONS Rick Carlisle Larry Brown HOUSTON ROCKETS Rudy Tomjanovich Jeff Van Gundy CLIPPERS Alvin Gentry x-Dennis Johnson (March 3) MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES Sidney Lowe Hubie Brown NEW ORLEANS HORNETS Paul Silas Tim Floyd PHILADELPHIA 76ERS Larry Brown Randy Ayers TORONTO RAPTORS Lenny Wilkens Kevin O’Neill WASHINGTON WIZARDS Doug Collins Eddie Jordan

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