Stevens had
not been mentioned as a possible replacement for Doc Rivers, who was
traded to the Clippers a week ago, and Boston was in complete control of
the news on its new coach, sending out a link to a press release
announcing his hiring from its official Twitter account.
Brad Stevens leaves Butler after six seasons to coach the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
The Celtics set off July 3rd fireworks and shocked the NBA world on
Wednesday by hiring Brad Stevens, who coached Butler University to two
NCAA national championship game appearances, to replace Doc Rivers.
Stevens, 36, was never mentioned as a candidate after Rivers left last week in a trade to go coach the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s now the youngest head coach in the NBA.
“Brad and I share a lot of the same values,” Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a statement. “Though he is young, I see Brad as a great leader who leads with impeccable character and a strong work ethic. His teams always play hard and execute on both ends of the court. Brad is a coach who has already enjoyed lots of success, and I look forward to working with him towards banner 18.”
By letting Rivers go and then trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets last week, and now hiring a coach who has never been involved in the NBA at any level, the Celtics are doing anything but trying to win their next title. They’re expected to move their last big chip, Rajon Rondo, when he returns from a major knee injury sometime this season.
Ainge chose Stevens to oversee his rebuilding campaign over Jay Larranaga, a holdover from Rivers’ staff and a former head coach in the NBA’s D League who is the son of University of Miami coach Jim Larranaga. Terms were not announced, but the Celtics are not going to pay Stevens the $7 million per season they had been paying Rivers for the last two seasons.
“This is totally off the charts, a shocker," one Eastern Conference executive said on Wednesday. “This pretty much means the Celtics are not trying to win. It’s stunning on many levels, but especially when you consider how many college guys have never worked out as NBA head coaches."
The most recent case was former St. John’s lead assistant Mike Dunlap, who lasted one season in Charlotte and was fired by Michael Jordan this spring after going 21-61.
Stevens was considered one of the top minds on the Division I level, going 166-49 in six seasons at the Indianapolis school. His 2010 team advanced to the championship game, only to lose to Duke, 61-59. His 2011 team returned to the title game, losing to Kemba Walker-led UConn. His 2013 Bulldogs lost to Marquette, 74-72, in the Round of 32.
“Our family is thrilled for the opportunity given to us by the leadership of the Boston Celtics, but it is emotional to leave a place that we have called home for the past 13 years,” Stevens said in a statement. “We truly love Butler University and Indianapolis, and are very thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate so many wonderful things together. What makes Butler truly unique is the people that we have been so blessed to work with. When it comes time for our kids to look at schools, we will start with Butler University.”
Stevens’ hiring does go along with one current NBA trend: He’s the eighth first-time head coach to be placed in charge of a team this offseason. The others include Jason Kidd (Nets); former Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw (Nuggets) and ex-Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek (Suns).
But unlike the other seven first-time head coaches, Stevens has no ties whatsoever to the pro game. He has spent his entire coaching career with Butler, joining the staff as a volunteer in 2000-01. He became a full-time assistant in 2001-02 and was promoted to head coach in April of 2007.
Stevens, 36, was never mentioned as a candidate after Rivers left last week in a trade to go coach the Los Angeles Clippers. He’s now the youngest head coach in the NBA.
“Brad and I share a lot of the same values,” Celtics president Danny Ainge said in a statement. “Though he is young, I see Brad as a great leader who leads with impeccable character and a strong work ethic. His teams always play hard and execute on both ends of the court. Brad is a coach who has already enjoyed lots of success, and I look forward to working with him towards banner 18.”
By letting Rivers go and then trading Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Nets last week, and now hiring a coach who has never been involved in the NBA at any level, the Celtics are doing anything but trying to win their next title. They’re expected to move their last big chip, Rajon Rondo, when he returns from a major knee injury sometime this season.
Ainge chose Stevens to oversee his rebuilding campaign over Jay Larranaga, a holdover from Rivers’ staff and a former head coach in the NBA’s D League who is the son of University of Miami coach Jim Larranaga. Terms were not announced, but the Celtics are not going to pay Stevens the $7 million per season they had been paying Rivers for the last two seasons.
“This is totally off the charts, a shocker," one Eastern Conference executive said on Wednesday. “This pretty much means the Celtics are not trying to win. It’s stunning on many levels, but especially when you consider how many college guys have never worked out as NBA head coaches."
The most recent case was former St. John’s lead assistant Mike Dunlap, who lasted one season in Charlotte and was fired by Michael Jordan this spring after going 21-61.
Stevens was considered one of the top minds on the Division I level, going 166-49 in six seasons at the Indianapolis school. His 2010 team advanced to the championship game, only to lose to Duke, 61-59. His 2011 team returned to the title game, losing to Kemba Walker-led UConn. His 2013 Bulldogs lost to Marquette, 74-72, in the Round of 32.
“Our family is thrilled for the opportunity given to us by the leadership of the Boston Celtics, but it is emotional to leave a place that we have called home for the past 13 years,” Stevens said in a statement. “We truly love Butler University and Indianapolis, and are very thankful to have had the opportunity to celebrate so many wonderful things together. What makes Butler truly unique is the people that we have been so blessed to work with. When it comes time for our kids to look at schools, we will start with Butler University.”
Stevens’ hiring does go along with one current NBA trend: He’s the eighth first-time head coach to be placed in charge of a team this offseason. The others include Jason Kidd (Nets); former Pacers assistant coach Brian Shaw (Nuggets) and ex-Jazz assistant Jeff Hornacek (Suns).
But unlike the other seven first-time head coaches, Stevens has no ties whatsoever to the pro game. He has spent his entire coaching career with Butler, joining the staff as a volunteer in 2000-01. He became a full-time assistant in 2001-02 and was promoted to head coach in April of 2007.
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