Bayern Munich Forced To Move Forward After Firing Dirk Bauermann As Head Coach

Over the last eight months, Dirk Bauermann has had the misfortune of being replaced by two respective basketball teams.

Back in February, Bauermann was replaced by Svetislav Pesic as head coach of the German National Team, but at least during that time the decision came on Bauermann's own watch.

That was his choice to step down and move on.

But on Thursday, Bauermann had no say regarding the tenure of his head coaching role with Bayern Munich in Germany's Beko BBL. Despite signing a three-year contract with Bayern in 2011, Bauermann was relieved of his duties after various internal conversations took place and external distractions occurred with Bayern.

According to international sports writer David Hein of Heinnews.com:

"The Munich daily SZ says Bauermann sacking may be connected to an unauthorized night on the town by Bayern players Chevon Troutman, Jared Homan and Tyrese Rice following Munich's recent test game against Alba Berlin.

"Homan was detained by Munich police last winter late night but did not face any disciplinary action and his contract was extended two years.

"Even though the sacking was a shock, the paper said Bauermann was "too dominant" and "resistant to advice'."

Perhaps the firing of Bauermann isn't as shocking then as the timing of it all.

Bayern opens the 2012-13 BBL season at home against EWE Baskets Oldenburg on October 3. And while there are a lot of questions and concerns that surrounds the team, at least now they have a new head coach in place as Yannis Christopoulos --who was an assistant coach under Bauermann -- takes over as head coach.

Last season Bayern was bounced from the first round of the playoffs by the Artland Dragons and have struggled during the preseason, looking out of synch for the most part. Mounting losses to Alba Berlin, Zalgiris Kaunas and CSKA Moscow certainly didn't help Bauermann's cause either. Yes, those are more well known powerful teams. But we are also talking about a team in Bayern Munich that believes they can knock off three-time defending Beko BBL champions, Brose Baskets Bamberg.

"We will overtake Bamberg, the only question is when," Bauermann said back in May before the start of the BBL playoffs.

Five months later he is out of a job.

"This decision was very difficult, especially considering the collaboration we had and the success we had. Yesterday we had an intensive talk, the president (Uli Hoeness), the sports director (Pesic), and I and analyzed the situation. And we came to the agreement that the experience from the last few months - both in the public and what happened on the court - led to differing judgments. And that it would be better to part ways," said team vice president Berndt Rauch.

With four days left until they tip off their regular season, Bayern Munich will quickly find out if this decision was for the better or worse.