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Northern Arizona Suns beat writer Brian M. Bergner Jr. of The Daily Courier revealed that his sources have confirmed Bret Burchard will be named the team’s new head coach. The announcement could come as soon as Tuesday.
BREAKING: @nazsuns expected to name Bret Burchard as their next head coach, sources confirm. Burchard was former assistant under Ty Ellis during the Suns' inaugural season in Prescott Valley. Team to make official announcement today, or early Wednesday. #CourierSports pic.twitter.com/iwjUMtwuWD
— Brian M. Bergner Jr. (@SportsWriter52) July 24, 2018
There was no shortage of shake-up with coaches in the Suns organization last season. Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson was fired in the season’s opening week. Assistant Jay Triano was then handed his job for the remainder of the year.
Burchard, Brandon Rosenthal, and NAZ Suns head coach Ty Ellis were all called up to the big club. Cody Toppert was assigned interim head coaching duties in Prescott Valley for the rest of the 2017-18 campaign.
Fast forward nine months and Toppert is now the Director of Player Development under Phoenix head coach Igor Kokoskov, and Burchard will call the shots for the G League Suns.
Burchard’s been with the Suns organization awhile. The 31-year-old Taylor University product served as the team’s basketball communications coordinator from 2010-13 and he was the team’s video coordinator from 2013-16.
The Northern Arizona Suns finished 22-28 last season and missed the playoffs. Five players who appeared in games for NAZ earned an NBA call-up.