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NewsletterThe Big Stiff Returns
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Twelve seasons after announcing his own firing complete with a champagne toast, the winningest coach in Denver Nuggets history has returned. Doug Moe has been hired as a coaching consultant for the Nuggets, and will provide input and experience to both head coach Jeff Bzdelik and general manager Kiki Vandeweghe.
Moe’s storied coaching career began in San Antonio when he was named head coach of the Spurs in 1976. After three-plus seasons in Texas, Moe came to Denver as an assistant but was promoted to the head job just 31 games into his first year with the team, thus launching the most successful 10 years in team history. Moe and the Nuggets won 432 games during that stretch, reaching the playoffs nine straight times including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 1984-85. With management tiring of perennial playoff appearances that did not net a championship, they decided a coaching change was necessary. The result was one of the more memorable firings in NBA history as Moe announced his own dismissal while his wife, affectionately known as “Big Jane”, toasted champagne. After less than one year coaching in Philadelphia, Moe disappeared from the NBA spotlight.
So what exactly has Moe been doing for the last 10 years?
“Absolutely nothing,” Moe said, his voice quickly reminding you of his New York roots.
And that is just the way he wanted it. He vowed he would never coach again after being shown the door only 56 games into his one and only season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992-93. True to his word, Moe has been on permanent vacation in San Antonio spending time with Big Jane and his grandchildren while trying his best to stay away from anything that could be considered work.
“Coming back is honestly something I never thought about,” he said.
But when Vandeweghe, who played under Moe from 1980-84, called and offered him the consulting position within the organization, it was a chance he had to consider.
“If I hadn't perfected my other job, I wouldn't be back. I've perfected the job of doing nothing so it's time to do something else,” Moe said.
After citing his lack of a green thumb in the garden as a major factor in his decision, Moe said Big Jane deserves the real credit for getting him back into basketball.
“She made me take this job. I think she just wanted me out of the house.”
It did not take him long to decide that the opportunity to return to Denver as a consultant was an offer he could not resist.
“I thought about it and called Kiki back. I said I'd take it,” Moe said. “As long as I'm not coaching I can stand anything.”
Vandeweghe sees making his former coach a member of his staff as a great opportunity to exact a little revenge for all the grief he suffered through as a player under Moe.
“Maybe I can turn the tables and yell at him a little bit,” Vandeweghe joked as he announced Moe’s hiring to the media. “I don't think he even knew my first name when I played for him. Maybe it was a curse word and then Vandeweghe.”
The Nuggets organization he returns to, however, is a far cry from powerhouse playoff teams of the ‘80s that he left. Since his departure the team is 260 games under .500 and has only made two playoff appearances. The hiring of Jeff Bzdelik is the ninth coaching change since the champagne flowed on that fateful day in 1990.
But the future does look bright. The offseason acquisition of Marcus Camby along with No. 1 draft picks Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Nene Hilario have the team moving in the right direction.
“This is a team that has struggled for years. They were like the Clippers," Moe said. “Now it seems like they're on the right track. It's a good situation to walk into, to have an ownership that's trying to do the right thing.”
While Moe will continue to live in San Antonio, he and Big Jane plan on getting a place in Denver where he will spend a good deal of his time during the basketball season. He will not sit on the bench during games and probably will not travel.
“I'll be at most of the practices watching and seeing if Jeff has enough talent to win,” Moe said. “I'll be giving them my opinion, and they can do with it what they want. I'll try to help out any way I can.”
With 628 career wins, 17th on the NBA’s all-time win list, Moe has plenty of knowledge and experience to share.
“Doug's someone that should always be a part of the Nuggets family,” Vandeweghe said.
Moe’s storied coaching career began in San Antonio when he was named head coach of the Spurs in 1976. After three-plus seasons in Texas, Moe came to Denver as an assistant but was promoted to the head job just 31 games into his first year with the team, thus launching the most successful 10 years in team history. Moe and the Nuggets won 432 games during that stretch, reaching the playoffs nine straight times including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 1984-85. With management tiring of perennial playoff appearances that did not net a championship, they decided a coaching change was necessary. The result was one of the more memorable firings in NBA history as Moe announced his own dismissal while his wife, affectionately known as “Big Jane”, toasted champagne. After less than one year coaching in Philadelphia, Moe disappeared from the NBA spotlight.
So what exactly has Moe been doing for the last 10 years?
“Absolutely nothing,” Moe said, his voice quickly reminding you of his New York roots.
And that is just the way he wanted it. He vowed he would never coach again after being shown the door only 56 games into his one and only season with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1992-93. True to his word, Moe has been on permanent vacation in San Antonio spending time with Big Jane and his grandchildren while trying his best to stay away from anything that could be considered work.
“Coming back is honestly something I never thought about,” he said.
But when Vandeweghe, who played under Moe from 1980-84, called and offered him the consulting position within the organization, it was a chance he had to consider.
“If I hadn't perfected my other job, I wouldn't be back. I've perfected the job of doing nothing so it's time to do something else,” Moe said.
After citing his lack of a green thumb in the garden as a major factor in his decision, Moe said Big Jane deserves the real credit for getting him back into basketball.
“She made me take this job. I think she just wanted me out of the house.”
It did not take him long to decide that the opportunity to return to Denver as a consultant was an offer he could not resist.
“I thought about it and called Kiki back. I said I'd take it,” Moe said. “As long as I'm not coaching I can stand anything.”
Vandeweghe sees making his former coach a member of his staff as a great opportunity to exact a little revenge for all the grief he suffered through as a player under Moe.
“Maybe I can turn the tables and yell at him a little bit,” Vandeweghe joked as he announced Moe’s hiring to the media. “I don't think he even knew my first name when I played for him. Maybe it was a curse word and then Vandeweghe.”
The Nuggets organization he returns to, however, is a far cry from powerhouse playoff teams of the ‘80s that he left. Since his departure the team is 260 games under .500 and has only made two playoff appearances. The hiring of Jeff Bzdelik is the ninth coaching change since the champagne flowed on that fateful day in 1990.
But the future does look bright. The offseason acquisition of Marcus Camby along with No. 1 draft picks Nikoloz Tskitishvili and Nene Hilario have the team moving in the right direction.
“This is a team that has struggled for years. They were like the Clippers," Moe said. “Now it seems like they're on the right track. It's a good situation to walk into, to have an ownership that's trying to do the right thing.”
While Moe will continue to live in San Antonio, he and Big Jane plan on getting a place in Denver where he will spend a good deal of his time during the basketball season. He will not sit on the bench during games and probably will not travel.
“I'll be at most of the practices watching and seeing if Jeff has enough talent to win,” Moe said. “I'll be giving them my opinion, and they can do with it what they want. I'll try to help out any way I can.”
With 628 career wins, 17th on the NBA’s all-time win list, Moe has plenty of knowledge and experience to share.
“Doug's someone that should always be a part of the Nuggets family,” Vandeweghe said.
