Ranking Vinny Del Negro with L.A. Clippers Most Controversial Coaches in History

The first year of Lob City for the Los Angeles Clippers was exciting, but it was also a stressful one for head coach Vinny Del Negro.

Despite leading the franchise to one of its best finishes in history, Del Negro was on the hot seat in the court of public opinion, both in March and again at season's end.

Los Angeles' decision to retain him wasn't too popular, and it reminds us of some other controversial coaching tenures and firings in Clippers history.

Sometimes it was the coach's terrible performance and controversial nature that led to the controversies. But oftentimes it was the franchise's poor management and owner Donald Sterling that were responsible for the drama.

Let's take a look at where Vinny Del Negro fits among the most controversial coaches in Los Angeles Clippers history.

7. Gene Shue (1978-80 & 1987-89)

The only coach to lead the franchise on two separate occasions was Gene Shue, who led the San Diego Clippers in the 1970s and Los Angeles Clippers in the 1980s.

Seven years removed from his first tour of duty with the franchise, Shue was hired back to coach the Clippers in 1987, only to get on the hot seat again.

He managed to survive the 1987-88 season, but he didn't last through the end of the following season. An 11-game losing streak sealed his fate despite the fact that he was the NBA's winningest active coach at that time.

That turned out to be the last stage of Shue's coaching career, as he never led an NBA team again.

6. Jim Lynum (1983-85)

Jim Lynam's stint oversaw the end of the San Diego era and the beginning of the Los Angeles era, but he didn't even last through the first full season at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

General Manager Carl Scheer told the Los Angeles Times that his midseason booting of Lynam was directly related to the team's poor record.

But it seems like underlying motives were at play. Bleacher Report's Dan Favale notes "the relationship between a more competitive market and the decision to fire him six weeks before his contract was up could certainly be drawn."

5. Don Casey (1989-1990)

Stepping in after Gene Shue's firing in 1989, Don Casey didn't make a good first impression, going 11-33 to finish Shue's failed campaign.

His winning percentage slightly improved in the 1989-1990 season, and it was actually the best mark the team had seen in four years.

But it wasn't good enough.

Several anonymous players were petitioning for Casey's dismissal during the season, but the team waited until the season was over to officially cut ties with him. They declined his contract option for 1990-1991.

4. Larry Brown (1992-93)

Out of Larry Brown's 14 different coaching jobs, you'd be hard-pressed to find one stint that didn't involve some form of controversy.

Miscommunication, locker room confusion and managerial discord seems to follow Brown everywhere he goes.

Los Angeles wasn't exempt from Brown's controversial nature. After leading the Clippers to back-to-back playoff berths (a rare occurrence in Clipper lore), Brown jetted off to greener pastures with the Indiana Pacers.

His short time at the helm is fitting considering the Clippers' history and Brown's tendencies.

3. Vinny Del Negro (2010- Present)

The Blake Griffin era has been favorable when it comes to highlight reels, but Vinny Del Negro has been on and off the hot seat several times over the last two years.

Del Negro's status and approval rating became increasingly tenuous this spring, as fans called for his head and rumors leaked that the players were turning on him.

The Clippers had a roller coaster year that culminated with a thrilling first-round win over Memphis followed by a season-ending sweep at the hands of San Antonio.

The playoff berth and first-round success spared Del Negro for now, but it doesn't erase the fact that he was a subject of much public discontent and locker-room drama.

2. Paul Silas (1980-83)

Paul Silas' first head coaching job in the NBA was with the San Diego Clippers from 1980-83, and it was a frustrating experience.

All three seasons were losing efforts, with 1981-82 and 1982-83 being particularly rough campaigns. The dismal pair of seasons included a 19-game losing streak, an average attendance of around 4,000 fans and substantial injuries to Bill Walton, Swen Nater and Lionel Hollins.

Silas' dismissal in 1983 was questionable considering injures and the razor-thin budget for scouting, training and medical resources.

Then again, how far was Silas going to take them anyway? In his 12 years as a head coach, he's reached the playoffs just four times, and he's never made it past the second round.

1. Mike Dunleavy (2003-2010)

Mike Dunleavy lasted a lot longer in Tinseltown than most Clippers coaches, but that doesn't mean it was the smoothest ride. Throughout his seven-year tenure with Los Angeles, Dunleavy feuded numerous times with owner Donald Sterling.

Dunleavy was both head coach and general manager, so the spring of 2010 was a crazy one as he removed himself from his duties as head coach, and a month later was relieved of his general manager duties altogether.

The controversy didn't end when Dunleavy was gone, however. Sterling stopped paying Dunleavy the money that was still owed on his contract, so Dunleavy took it to arbitration and was awarded $13 million.

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