Alvin Gentry named new Head Coach of the New Orleans Pelicans
After a second interview with Alvin Gentry, the New Orleans Pelicans have officially announced him as their new Head Coach as soon as his duties as an Associate Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors are done. The terms of the deal have not been being disclosed but according to Marc J.Spears, its a four-year deal.
The New Orleans Pelicans are signing new head coach Alvin Gentry to a four-year contract, a source told Yahoo Sports.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 31, 2015Pelicans General Manager praised Gentry while appointing him the Head Coach:
"We conducted an extensive coaching search that identified Alvin Gentry as the right person to lead our team. Alvin is a well-respected coach that brings many years of experience, a wealth of knowledge, creativity and leadership."
Alvin Gentry is a 60 year old veteran Head Coach with close to a decade worth of coaching in the NBA. He has an overall record of 335-370 however during his most successful tenure with the Phoenix Suns he led the team to a 158-144 record through 5 seasons, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2010 where they lost to the eventual champions, the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a statement following the announcement:
"I'm truly honored for the opportunity to lead the Pelicans as their head coach and am anxious to get started," Gentry said in a statement. "However, my responsibilities with the Pelicans will begin immediately after the NBA Finals are completed. Until then, my complete focus for the next two-plus weeks will be with the Warriors and the NBA Finals.”-Alvin Gentry.
Despite already being appointed as the Head Coach of another franchise, Gentry will have his hands full trying to keep the Warriors offense on the same page, against a tough Cleveland Cavaliers defense. Being an Associate Head Coach and the lead offense play caller for the team, Head Coach Steve Kerr had a lot to say about losing Gentry being named Head Coach:
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— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 31, 2015Although it's all speculation, former Denver Nuggets Head Coach Brian Shaw is all set to take Gentry’s position in the Warriors Coaching staff after he attended Golden State’s practice today.
Ex-Nuggets coach Brian Shaw would be interested in replacing new Pels coach Alvin Gentry as an assoc. head coach with Warriors, source said.
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 31, 2015Brian Shaw is an Oakland native who attended Warriors practice today. The Shaw family also moved back to their Oakland Hills home today, too
— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) May 31, 2015Amid all these reports and speculations, the Golden State Warriors prepare to host the Cleveland Cavaliers for the NBA Finals on June 4th at 9 pm [Eastern Time]. Here’s the rest of the schedule.