Wizards Sack Coach Jordan After 1-10 Start

`Our team is not performing to my expectations and I felt it was time to make a change`, Wizards chairman Abe Pollin said.

Ed Tapscott, in his second season with the Wizards as director of player development, was named the interim head coach.

"This was an extremely difficult decision because I'm personally very fond of Eddie," Wizards chairman Abe Pollin said in a statement.

"Our team is not performing to my expectations and I felt it was time to make a change."

Washington coaches were optimistic the team could make a run deep into the playoffs but injuries to veteran starters Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood before the season had Jordan scrambling to adjust.

The Wizards, off to their worst start since 1966 when the franchise was in Baltimore, are averaging just 94.6 points per game while giving up 103.5.

Washington lost to New York 122-117 on Saturday despite the Knicks having only eight players available due to trades they had made that had not been completed.

"Our 1-10 record is not acceptable and, more importantly, the way we have lost those games is not acceptable," said Wizards President Ernie Grunfeld.

"We felt as an organization that it was time to make a change and we're looking forward to the team moving in a positive direction."

During his five-plus seasons with the Wizards, Jordan compiled a 197-224 record. The club has made the playoffs in each of the last four years but advanced past the first round only once.

Tapscott's first game as coach will be Tuesday when the Wizards host the Golden State Warriors.