December is known as the month for giving, well for 3 coaches today, they were given the axe. Toronto Raptors coach Sam Mitchell, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, and Carolina Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette all were fired today.
The Raptors are 8-9, but suffered a 39 point loss in Denver. Mitchell was in his fifth season with the Raptors, finishing with a 156-189 record. In the '06-'07 season, he was named Coach of the Year, after leading the Raptors to a 47-35 record and into the playoffs. They also made the playoffs last season, losing in the first round.
Long time Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville won 85 games and 1 SEC championship in 10 seasons, announced his resignation today. The Tigers finished 5-7 this season and was shut out against rival Alabama last week. In 2004, Tuberville led the Tigers to a 13-0 year, but was somehow left out of the championship game in what may be the worst issue the BCS faced.
The most shocking firing was Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette. He won more NHL games than any other American born coach. In 2006, Laviolette guided the 'Canes to their first Stanley Cup victory. He made Eric Staal and Cam Ward household names and star players around the league. 