Thunder news: Coach Mark Daigneault to miss road trip for expected birth of child
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and his wife, Ashley Kerr, are expecting a baby, and with Kerr expecting to give birth in the near future, Daigneault announced Thursday that he will not travel with the team on an upcoming three-game road trip.
Coming off a win at home against the Rockets, the Thunder will travel to Milwaukee for a game on Friday night, then play the second night of a back-to-back in Boston on Saturday. That will be followed by a trip to Atlanta on Monday, before the team returns home to play the Jazz on November 24.
In Daigneault’s absence, assistant Dave Bliss will serve as the acting head coach.
With his wife due to give birth, Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault won't accompany the Thunder on a three-game trip starting Friday in Milwaukee. Assistant coach Dave Bliss will take over as acting head coach.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 18, 2021
Mark Daigneault says Dave Bliss will coach the team this weekend we Mark Daigneault stays in OKC to be with his pregnant wife of nine months.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) November 18, 2021
Mark Daigneault says he won’t travel on the weekend, his wife is pregnant and they don’t know when the baby will come.
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) November 18, 2021