The 76ers confirmed they met yesterday with Boston Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau about their head coaching vacancy, bringing the number of interviewed candidates to four.
The Sixers would not comment further on the interview, and Thibodeau could not be reached for comment. The Sixers called the Celtics for permission last weekend. Thibodeau joins former Washington Wizards coach Eddie Jordan, current Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis, and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey as the four known candidates on the list of Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski.
Thibodeau is also expected to interview with the Sacramento Kings, who have the only other head coaching vacancy in the NBA. Also expected to interview in Sacramento is Rambis. Jordan interviewed with the Kings last week.
Thibodeau has spent 19 seasons as an NBA assistant coach, the last two in Boston. He is no longer under contract with the Celtics, having signed one-year deals in each of his two seasons.
Thibodeau is the only candidate on Stefanski's list without head coaching experience, but he interviewed for Sacramento's previous vacancy after the 2007-08 season.
After last season, his head coaching prospects were hindered by the Celtics' run to the 2008 NBA title. By the time Boston was done playing, most teams with vacancies had already hired their head coaches.
Thibodeau is known as a defensive guru. In his 19 seasons, 15 of his teams have finished in the top 10 defensively. But former head coach Jeff Van Gundy, with whom Thibodeau worked with the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets, has said that Thibodeau has been pigeon-holed, and that his former assistant excels at more than just defense.
Before moving to New York for the 1996-97 season, Thibodeau spent two season as an assistant with the Sixers , working under head coach John Lucas.
Contact staff writer Kate Fagan at 856-779-3844 or kfagan@phillynews.com.
