National Basketball Association

Pistons coach returns after absence

Published Mar. 18, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Detroit Pistons coach Lawrence Frank returned to the team Monday after missing six games due to a family illness.

Frank's wife fell seriously ill, and he returned to New Jersey, missing two home games and a four-game road trip.

Team president Joe Dumars told Frank to stay as long as he needed, but he decided to return once his wife left the hospital.

''It was a very hard decision,'' he said. ''There's no right or wrong decision. I just had to deal with what my wife and I felt was the right thing. I'm here, so I'm 100 percent engaged with being here and doing my job. When we aren't playing, my thoughts will be 100 percent with my wife, and I will try to get back to see her whenever I can.''

Brian Hill coached the team in Frank's absence, going 0-6 as part of Detroit's eight-game losing streak.