Who's the Best Fit to Replace Doug Collins on the Philadelphia 76ers?

Doug Collins' stint as Philadelphia 76ers head coach has come to an end, as he has informed the team he will not return next year.

Can you really blame him after the disaster that was this season?

Now that Collins is out, it is time for the front office to find a head coach who can allow young players to find a comfort zone between playing free but structured basketball.

It wouldn't hurt to have a coach who demanded defensive intensity and aggressiveness either.

Here are a few viable candidates.

Avery Johnson

Johnson has shown he can win as a head coach in the NBA, but unfortunately, he has also proven he can lose.

For the Sixers, the potential to bring in a coach who has reached the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks is something to jump on.

Sure, Johnson had a rough season coaching the Brooklyn Nets, which resulted in him being fired, but perhaps there was too much pressure on him in terms of talent.

It doesn't look like that would be the case in Philadelphia, barring any drastic personnel changes.

Avery Johnson has coached on the biggest stage with a superstar in Dirk Nowitzki.

If Johnson came to Philadelphia, he would be given a fair shake, something he was not given when the Nets moved to Brooklyn.

Brian Shaw

Shaw's name seems to constantly pop up whenever there is a head-coach vacancy.

Although he has yet to be named as the head coach of an NBA team, this situation might change that.

Shaw has learned from the best, serving as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson in Los Angeles from 2004-2011.

He now serves as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers.

It is about time somebody gave Shaw a chance to prove himself and with the idea of a major roster makeover in Philadelphia, it wouldn't hurt to create a new identity, starting with Shaw as head coach.

Plus, Brian Shaw did play in Philadelphia for a little while during the 1997-1998 season.

Stan Van Gundy

The Philadelphia 76ers need a fire, a spark, a flash...anything to get them headed back in the right direction.

Stan Van Gundy could be that spark and then some.

Van Gundy has seen success in the past with head coaching gigs with the Miami Heat and Orlando Magic.

While he has been out of the game for a couple years now, perhaps that could be a blessing in disguise. This would allow him to see the game from an outside perspective and breathe new life into a stagnant 76ers organization.

Stan Van Gundy would fit perfectly in Philadelphia as a coach who will do whatever it takes to win.