Parker, Asvel show Vincent the door

VILLEURBANNE (LNB/Eurocup) - Asvel Lyon have fired the French women’s silver-medal winning coach at the London Olympics, Pierre Vincent.

The men's club has put assistant coach Nordine Ghrib in charge on an interim basis. Ghrib led the team for a spell early in the 2010-11 campaign.

Vincent, in charge of Asvel since the 2011-12 season following a long and successful career at the helm of EuroLeague Women giants Bourges Basket, was shown the door following Asvel’s 92-75 home defeat to Gran Canaria in the Eurocup this week.

The defeat was a third in five games in the competition.

Asvel are also struggling in the French top flight. They are 15th in Pro A with just two wins in seven games.

San Antonio Spurs and France national team superstar Tony Parker, the president of Asvel, made the decision to dismiss the man who had coached him as a youth.

Parker said to L’Equipe: "The most important thing now is to do what’s right for the club. I had a long talk for more than a half-hour with Pierre Vincent. He understood the decision."

Vincent is well known for his accomplishments with Bourges, and France’s women.

In his first major tournament in charge, he steered the national side to title at the EuroBasket Women 2009 and then at the 2012 at the London Olympics, the French women claimed silver.

Vincent also coached Les Bleues at the EuroBasket Women 2013 on home soil and France again finished runners-up, losing to Spain in the title game.

FIBA