(Series Stats)Won NBA Western Conference Finals (4-2) versus Los Angeles Clippers Most recently the Georgia Tech alum played with the 2021 NBA G League Ignite. The Suns will reportedly hire assistant coach Bryan Gates to reunite him with Monty Williams after being an assistant to Phoenix's head coach in New Orleans from 2010-15. Feb 26 @ CHI, PHO (21-11) beat CHI, 106-97, 33. Gates served as an assistant coach on Williams staff for each of their five seasons in New Orleans. Ja Morant will be away from the Memphis Grizzlies for at least two games as the NBA investigates a social media post after he livestreamed himself holding what appeared to be a gun at a club. A 13-year NBA veteran as a player, Blake last played in 2016 and entered the coaching ranks with Portland, first as a coaching intern in 2017-18 then as an on-court assistant in 2018-19 where he helped the team advance to the Western Conference Finals. In addition to his time at ASU, Greers coaching background includes serving as a college assistant coach at Wright State University (2003-2005), Boston University (1994-2003) and Brandeis University (1989-1992), in addition to working as recruiting coordinator at Boston College from 1992-1994. On August 7, 2021, Young was promoted to the role of associate head coach for the Suns. The start of the Kevin Durant era mid-season with the Phoenix Suns will be some brilliance mixed with some stagnation. Feb 22, PHO (20-10) beat POR, 132-100, 31. Last month, Phoenix announced the additions of Bryan Gates,Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi, all of which have ties to Williams. Phoenix Suns Arena Prior to his time on the Sixers coaching staff, Young spent nine seasons as a coach in the NBA G League, including time as head coach of the Delaware Blue Coats, Iowa Energy and Utah Flash. Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, Ayers is a member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. Player development/video coordinator: Jamal Gross. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? His roles included director of analysis, opposition scouting, and player development coach. At age 44, Ingrid was killed in 2016 when her car was . May 15 @ SAS, PHO (50-21) beat SAS, 140-103, 72. Most recently, Jack averaged 8.9 points in 15 appearances for the NBA G League Ignite during the 2021 NBA G League season held at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida this past February. Dec 26 @ SAC, PHO (1-1) lost to SAC, 103-106, 3. He qualified for the playoffs seven times in his 12 seasons, averaging 5.2 points in 36 career playoff games (12 starts). In 11 total NBA seasons, he has worked for seven teams that have qualified for the postseason. Head coach: Monty Williams. Phoenix Suns assistant coach Willie Green is reportedly among a list of candidates for the Orlando Magic's head coach vacancy following Steve Clifford's departure from the organization. Whether Green finds that promotion in 2021 or later on, theres no doubt Green wont be in the assistant chair long under Williams. It was only Kevin Durant's first game with the Suns but the tantalizing upside of him in the Valley came oozing out of Wednesday's win. The members of this staff have combined to win multiple NBA titles, conference titles and NCAA titles, bring significant coaching and playing experience at the NBA level, and recognize the attention to details that create the foundation for successful teams. May 5 @ ATL, PHO (47-19) lost to ATL, 103-135, 68. The Suns are also chronologically the third-oldest team in the NBA to have never won an NBA Championship while having played in the NBA Finals at least once. Green remains fourth in program history in career points scored. Kevin Durant returned from a 20-game absence for his Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday and he looked like himself against the Charlotte Hornets. Paul Westphal has the highest all-time winning percentage with the Suns with a .685 percentage. As a player, Green made the playoffs in seven of his 12 seasons, including the year in New Orleans -- one of just seven playoff trips the team has made in franchise history. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. A graduate of Boston College, he was a student assistant for the mens basketball team during the winningest period in the Eagles school history from 2002-2006. Young also served as the Sixers head coach at NBA Summer League in 2018. . To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Jan 9 @ IND, PHO (7-3) beat IND, 125-117, 11. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Jarrett Jack, a 13-year veteran of the NBA, played two seasons for Monty Williams in New Orleans. Player development/video coordinator: Corey Vinson. Green, 37, joins the Suns following three seasons as assistant coach/player development for the Golden State Warriors. All rights reserved. Record: At the time, the Hawks were expected to conduct a wide-ranging search but . This is a BETA experience. Rajakovic served as the Thunders head coach at NBA Summer League in 2014 and 2015. Jan 20 @ HOU, PHO (8-5) beat HOU, 109-103, 14. Jan 1 @ DEN, PHO (5-1) beat DEN, 106-103, 9. Bryan Gates, Jarrett Jack, and Steve Scalzi have joined the coaching ranks for Phoenix as well. The Magic dealing Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline signaled them hitting the restart button, beginning from ground zero. Feb 28 @ MIN, PHO (22-11) beat MIN, 118-99, 34. The deal is expected to be finalized this week. Gates joins the Suns following two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Gates will reunite with Williams after working for him for five seasons (2010-2015) with the Pelicans. Hall of Famers James Worthy, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and Rick. He was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in both seasons and was the consensus national coach of the year for 1990-91. When he first moved to the United States, Fois played one season at Pepperdine in 2007-08 and was named to the WCC Commissioners Honor Roll. Hired in 2018, Serbian coach Igor Kokokov became the first head coach born and raised outside of North America to be hired as a head coach in NBA history. Bryant joined the Thunder franchise in 2007 before the teams final season in Seattle then relocated to Oklahoma City and helped one of the leagues youngest rosters develop into a team that has averaged 52 wins and made the playoffs nine times over the last 10 seasons. Rajakovic received a basketball coaching degree from the Belgrade Basketball Academy in 2004 and a degree in sports management from Alfa BK University in Belgrade in 2006. Scalzi joins the Suns following seven seasons on the coaching staff of the Oklahoma City Thunder. (Series Stats)Lost NBA Finals (2-4) versus Milwaukee Bucks According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats. Prior to being selected with the 41st overall pick by Seattle in 2003, Green was a four-year standout at the University of Detroit Mercy. Suns assistant Willie Green is ready to be a head coach, but Boston is a bad fit . 51-21, Finished 2nd in NBA Pace: 97.2 (26th of 30), Off Rtg: 117.2 (5th of 30) The way Green has been able to relate to players, while also keeping them in line with great fundamental tutelage, is a solid base to become a future NBA head coach. I write about the NBA, NFL, UFC for Forbes.com. Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 202122season. Opp PTS/G: He is of Native American descent as his father is a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. The meat of the story revolves around WNBA player Kristi Toliver's unique . The Phoenix Suns, as they attempt to defend their Western Conference Championship, will have a slew of new faces assisting head coach Monty Williams for the 2021-22 season. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images for TopSpin). The Pelicans also have the No. Ayers also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with both the Orlando Magic (2005-2007) and Washington Wizards (2007-2009), and another season as an assistant coach with Philadelphia in 2009-10, before joining Williams staff in New Orleans. Apr 5 @ HOU, PHO (35-14) beat HOU, 133-130, 51. The Memphis forward sustained the injury Friday night during the 1st quarter of the Grizzlies 113-97 loss to the Nuggets. Gates coached under Williams in New Orleans, Jack played for him in New Orleans and Portland while Scalzi was with the Oklahoma City Thunder when Williams was an associate head coach there in 2015-16. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. All thats missing with the Pelicans is stability and internal growth from a young roster. Oops. Something went wrong. Jack joins the coaching ranks after a 13-year NBA career as a player from 2005-2018. He averaged career highs of 11.1 points and 7.3 rebounds with Westchester in 2014-15, then was a member of the New York Knicks team at NBA Summer League 2015. Prior to becoming a coach in the NBA, Ayers coached collegiately, including eight seasons as head coach at The Ohio State University from 1989-1997. Mar 31, PHO (33-14) beat CHI, 121-116, 49. According to Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer, Suns lead assistant Willie Green has interviewed for three head coach openings with the New Orleans Pelicans, Orlando Magic, and Washington. Strong, 32, joins the Suns after spending the 2018-19 season in player development for the Philadelphia 76ers where he worked alongside Williams to help the Sixers reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Feb 19 @ NOP, PHO (18-10) beat NOP, 132-114, 29. Championship +4000, Over-Under The former Pelicans guard is in the midst of his second season as an assistant with the Suns. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. The 6-4 shooting guard played his first seven seasons in Philadelphia, including in 2007-08 when he averaged a career-high 12.4 points for the 76ers. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - JULY 20: Head coach Monty Williams of the Phoenix Suns signals to his team during the first half in Game Six of the NBA Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mar 13, PHO (25-12) lost to IND, 111-122, 39. This was after the team had bid adieu to Jay Triano . He was drafted 32nd overall in the 1999 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and had a nine-year NBA and professional playing career, with stops in Chicago, Philadelphia, Utah, Washington, Milwaukee, Portland, as well as overseas in Spain. Greer joins the Suns following two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to his time at Gonzaga, Fois served as a graduate assistant for the mens basketball program at Pepperdine University from 2012-2014. Congrats, Kevin!Welcome to The Valley, Bryan, Jarrett and Steve pic.twitter.com/J0unPGjF6H. Start your online subscription. Familiarity is very important to Monty Williams. In terms of immediate on-court success, Washington could be the best landing spot for Green. Ayers has spent 17 total seasons on an NBA bench and was head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers for the majority of the 2003-04 season. "Alvin Gentry Named Interim Head Coach by the Suns", "Suns Agree to Terms with Igor Kokokov To Become New Head Coach", "Suns Name Earl Watson Interim Head Coach", "Suns Relieve Earl Watson of Head Coaching Duties", "Suns Agree to Terms with Monty Williams To Become New Head Coach", National Basketball Association head coaches, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Phoenix_Suns_head_coaches&oldid=1092301247, Lists of National Basketball Association head coaches by team, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Suns, This page was last edited on 9 June 2022, at 12:48. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Willie Green appears at the 7th Annual New York City TopSpin Charity [+] Event at Metropolitan Pavilion on December 9, 2015 in New York City. He was a member of Larry Browns staff with the 76ers from 1997-2003, where he coached both Williams and Bryant, then was Greens first NBA head coach with Philadelphia in 2003-04. [4] Cotton Fitzsimmons, Mike D'Antoni and Monty Williams are the only coaches to have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award with the Suns. Overall, the 6-9 power forward averaged 6.0 points on 52.2% shooting and 4.1 rebounds in 111 games (40 starts) with Phoenix, in addition to 6.4 points and 3.4 rebounds in eight playoff games. Michael Ruffin | The Official Website of The NBA Coaches Association MICHAEL RUFFIN PHOENIX SUNS ASSISTANT COACH In 2021, Michael Ruffin became an Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Suns. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. With success comes more attention, which is exactly whats happening for the Phoenix Suns during their deep playoff run. As the Suns look to RUN IT BACK and bring back much of the team that just went to the NBA Finals, familiarity seems to be a common theme as Williams surrounds himself with faces he has worked with before. Former Wizards head coach Scott Brooks struggled with in-game adjustments during his tenure, but Green might excel there while also connecting more with the locker room. All of the franchises Green has interviewed with were all in the same position as Phoenix two seasons ago. Phoenix coach Monty Williams is hiring Bryan Gates as an assistant to replace Willie Green, who left to become New Orleans head coach, sources tell ESPN. Western Conference, PTS/G: Coach Ruffin and his wife, Mistye, have four children (Milaya, Javon, Kalea, & Deionte). < 2021-22. He played alongside Chris Paul during the 2010-11 season as well. Blake played four seasons at the University of Maryland and guided the Terrapins to their only NCAA Championship as a junior in 2002 after the school made its first Final Four during his sophomore season in 2001. The Phoenix Suns franchise has had 20head coaches. Carlesimo-coached Pirates to their first-ever NCAA tournament berth. Monty Williams is the Head Coach of the Phoenix Suns. Apr 15, PHO (40-15) beat SAC, 122-114, 56. The Phoenix Suns on Friday announced the addition of assistant coach Michael Ruffin, plus Jamal Gross and Corey Vinson to the title of player development coach/video coordinator. The move was first . Are you a sports fan? Apr 12, PHO (38-15) beat HOU, 126-120, 55. Jan 11 @ WAS, PHO (7-4) lost to WAS, 107-128, 12. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. In 2012, the Serbian native initially joined the Thunder organization as head coach of their NBA G League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers, becoming the first head coach born outside North America in NBA G League history. Feb 1 @ DAL, PHO (11-8) beat DAL, 109-108, 20. Apr 10, PHO (37-15) beat WAS, 134-106, 53. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. Ruffin, 44, was on the New Orleans Pelicans coaching staff from 2014-20. Also named were Jamal Gross. Jack and Williams also were together in Portland from 2005-2008, Jacks first three NBA seasons as a player and Williams first three NBA seasons as an assistant coach. Ruffin played nine seasons in the NBA with the final one being in Portland in 2008-09 when Williams was an assistant with the Trail Blazers under Nate McMillan. Before his coaching career, Ayers played at Miami and led the team to an upset of defending champion Marquette in the first round of the 1978 NCAA tournament.