Seattle Coaching Job Goes to K.C. Jones

K.C. Jones took over as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics as Bernie Bickerstaff became vice president of basketball operations Tuesday.

Bickerstaff, 46, gave up his coaching position with a year left on a five-year contract.

“It took us about eight seconds to decide that K.C. was the guy to take over Bernie’s job,” club President Bob Whitsitt said. Jones had been an assistant coach under Bickerstaff.

After the 1987-88 season, when he coached the Boston Celtics, Jones, 57, said he did not plan to return to coaching. However, he said he missed coaching more than he had expected.