Denver Nuggets lose their fourth assistant coach this offseason as Noel Gillespie takes head D-League job

The Denver Nuggets lost their fourth assistant coach this offseason when Noel Gillespie accepted the head coaching job for the Charlotte Hornets’ D-League affiliate, the Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Friday.

Sources: Denver assistant Noel Gillespie is finalizing deal to become head coach of Charlotte's new D-League affiliate in Greensboro.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 15, 2016

Gillespie had been with the Nuggets for three seasons and was largely responsible for scouting future opponents and served as a player development coach throughout the year. His new role is a step up for the former video coordinator who started his career with the Indiana Pacers and was then a part of the Phoenix Suns organization for 10 years before arriving in Denver.

Charlotte’s new D-League team, the Greensboro Swarm, which will be playing their inaugural season in 2016-17, initially offered the job to former NBA center Sean Rooks who unfortunately passed away in June.

Earlier this year, first-year assistant coach Chris Fleming left Denver to pursue a higher ranking position in Brooklyn with new head coach Kenny Atkinson. Then, just a few days ago, Ed Pinckney and Dee Brown, coach Michael Malone’s lead assistant and director of player development, respectively, both left the franchise. Some are reporting that Pinckney resigned, while others say the contrary and it’s not known what Brown’s plans are after the Nuggets.