The New Jersey Nets, on the verge of setting the NBA's all-time record for losses to open a season, named Kiki Vandeweghe as their interim head coach Tuesday.

Vandeweghe, 51, takes over from Lawrence Frank who was fired on Sunday.

"Kiki has a broad range of NBA experience, which includes his 13-year career as an All-Star caliber player and then as a coach and front office executive," Nets President Rod Thorn said in a statement on the team's website (http://www.nba.com/nets).

"We feel that he is the right person at this juncture to help in continuing to develop our young players and achieve our overall objectives for the remainder of this season."

Vandeweghe, who has never been an NBA head coach, has served as the team's general manager since May, 2008.

The Nets host the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday hoping to avoid becoming the first team to open their season with 18 consecutive losses.