The Hawks have not renewed the contracts of long-time head athletic trainer Wally Blase, assistant trainer Pete Radulovic and team security officer Andre Cottle, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.
The three employees were informed of the decisions Thursday. There is no timetable for the replacement of Blase and Radulovic as the team’s training staff.
Blase completed his 15th season as the Hawks head trainer. Before joining the Hawks in 2000, he spent four years as the assistant athletic trainer for the Bulls and was part of two NBA championships. Blase has served on the executive board of the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) for 14 years. In 2013, he was honored with the NBATA’s Ed Lacerte Service Award.
Radulovic completed his 18th season with the Hawks as assistant trainer. He also served as the director of player performance.
The Hawks lost strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson to the Jazz earlier this offseason.
The Hawks will likely be without a training staff when they participate in the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins this week.
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