Wizards keep Wittman as coach

Randy Wittman, who guided the Washington Wizards this past season after the firing of coach Flip Saunders, has signed a two-year deal to continue coaching the NBA club. The team announced on Monday that they would keep Wittman, who took over after the Wizards lost 15 of their first 17 games. The team went 18-31 under Wittman, winning its last six games of the season and eight of its last 10. “We are excited to bring Randy back as head coach and give him the opportunity to build on the positive momentum that the team showed under his leadership last season,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. “We were very pleased with the development of our young players and the commitment to winning he instilled despite taking over the team under difficult circumstances.” Wittman has a career NBA coaching record of 118-238, having previously coached the Minnesota Timberwolves over parts of two seasons in 2007 and 2008 and the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1999-2001.