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. Phoenix didn't have a lottery pick in the 2021 . Greer joins the Suns following two seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Randle is currently coaching the Summer League Suns in Las Vegas. Bryan Gates, Jarrett Jack, and Steve Scalzi have joined the coaching ranks for Phoenix as well. In assembling a staff, the goal was simple: identify high-character individuals with high-level experience who will work relentlessly to develop a culture of championship habits here in Phoenix. . He was also with Williams in Portland from 2005-2008. Young, who was an assistant coach last season with Phoenix, was an assistant with the Phildelphia 76ers for four seasons prior to coming to the Valley. 109.5 (7th of 30), SRS: 5.67 (3rd of 30) You may opt-out by. 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. Ayers, 63, brings to the Suns over 35 years of coaching experience, including as an NBA and college head coach, and has most recently spent the past three seasons as a pro scout with the Brooklyn Nets. Dec 31 @ UTA, PHO (4-1) beat UTA, 106-95, 6. Apr 30, PHO (45-18) beat UTA, 121-100, 64. In the 2020-2021 NBA Season, Coach Williams led the Phoenix Suns to a 51-21 regular season record and a 2021 NBA Finals appearance - this was the Suns first NBA Finals appearance in 28 years (1993). Apr 12, PHO (38-15) beat HOU, 126-120, 55. Kevin Durant returned from a 20-game absence for his Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday and he looked like himself against the Charlotte Hornets. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network. A 12-year NBA veteran, Green has been an assistant with the Suns for the past two seasons and spent the previous three seasons on the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff. National Basketball Coaches Association release: Phoenix Suns Head Coach Monty Williams is the 2021 recipient of the Michael H. Goldberg NBCA Coach of the Year Award, the National Basketball Coaches Association announced today. Support local journalism. [1] Founded in 1968, the Suns are chronologically the second-oldest team in the Western Conference. Prior to his time at Gonzaga, Fois served as a graduate assistant for the mens basketball program at Pepperdine University from 2012-2014. Apr 26 @ NYK, PHO (43-18) beat NYK, 118-110, 62. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Feb 19 @ NOP, PHO (18-10) beat NOP, 132-114, 29. Originally the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft by Portland, Bryant played four seasons at Seton Hall University and left the program ranked fifth in school history in total points and total rebounds. 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. [4] Cotton Fitzsimmons, Mike D'Antoniand Monty Williamsare the only coaches to have won the NBA Coach of the Year Awardwith the Suns. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. 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. May 9 @ LAL, PHO (48-20) lost to LAL, 110-123, 69. Stay in the know. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Greer helped the Sun Devils to consecutive 20-win seasons in his first two years in Tempe, including an NCAA tournament appearance in 2014. 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. A 6-11 forward/center as a player, Strong played five seasons in the G League from 2011-2016, averaging 7.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 183 career games with the Iowa Energy, Delaware 87ers, Austin Toros and Westchester Knicks. PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns today announced Head Coach Monty Williams' coaching staff, naming Willie Green, Darko Rajakovic, Mark Bryant, Randy Ayers, Larry Greer and Steve Blake as. 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. Opp PTS/G: Durant finished with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting in 27 minutes of Phoenix's 105-91 win over Charlotte before a sellout crowd of 19,137 that saw a glimpse of what the Suns (34-29) could be . Last month, Phoenix announced the additions of Bryan Gates,Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi, all of which have ties to Williams. Ayers entered coaching as a graduate assistant for two seasons at his alma mater, Miami University in Ohio, then spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point before joining Ohio States staff. The Suns never have been coached by a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Born and raised in Springfield, Ohio, Ayers is a member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - According to ESPN, Phoenix Suns assistant coach Willie Green is the frontrunner on a shortlist to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.. Green has 12 years . Last season, Ruffin was an assistant for Fort Wayne Mad Ants in the NBA G League. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Blake played in all 138 games during his college career and remains Marylands all-time leader in games started (136) and assists (972) with 200 more assists than second place. He worked as an assistant coach with the Warriors when the team won back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018. Entering the NBA as the 22nd overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, Jack played collegiately at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he led the Yellow Jackets to a national runner-up finish in 2004. With Ruffin on the Suns staff, he joins fellow new assistant coaches Kevin Gates, Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi alongside the returning Randy Ayers, Mark Bryant, Brian Randle and Kevin Young. Whether Green finds that promotion in 2021 or later on, theres no doubt Green wont be in the assistant chair long under Williams. He worked with Monty Williams during the 2018-19 campaign in Philadelphia. 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. 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. The announcement was made this morning by Williams on the Suns podcast, The Outlet, which can be viewed here. Gambling problem? [4] In his first year as associate head coach, Young became the Suns' acting head coach for a four game stretch in late December/ early January with Monty Williams in health and safety protocols. In 11 total NBA seasons, he has worked for seven teams that have qualified for the postseason. Have opinion about current state of theSuns? He averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists over 867 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. John MacLeod is the franchise's all-time leader in coaching years and games won, winning the most regular-season and playoff games. Feb 3 @ NOP, PHO (11-9) lost to NOP, 101-123, 27. In terms of immediate on-court success, Washington could be the best landing spot for Green. Player development/video coordinator: Jamal Gross. As previously reported on the HoopsHype podcast, the Wizards also interviewed several other assistant coaches, including Miami's Chris Quinn and former Hornets assistant coach Ronald. Def Rtg: 111.3 (9th of 30) Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. I write about the NBA, NFL, UFC for Forbes.com. In 2021, Michael Ruffin became an Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Suns. 2021-Present Phoenix Suns (Assistant Coach Monty Williams), 2020-2021 Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Assistant Coach Tom Hankins), 2014-2020 New Orleans Pelicans (Assistant Coach Alvin Gentry & Monty Williams), Karen Marrero Mar 30, PHO (32-14) beat ATL, 117-110, 47. Young joined Williams staff in Phoenix last season. Data Provided By Founded in 1976, the NBCA consists of all NBA Head Coaches, Assistant Coaches and alumni, and works closely with the NBA on all matters that pertain to the coaching profession. Green, who played in the NBA from 2003-2015, already has a very successful track record as an assistant coach. At 39, Green would become the third-youngest coach in the NBA behind the Oklahoma City Thunder's Mark Daigneault (35) and the Memphis Grizzlies' Taylor Jenkins (36). Young served as an assistant coach in his first season with the Suns in 2020-21 after four seasons as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers. Er erhielt in Phoenix einen Vertrag bis 2016 und soll die Suns wieder in den Bereich der Playoffs fhren. Feb 26 @ CHI, PHO (21-11) beat CHI, 106-97, 33. 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. Looking at 5 key stats heading into Saturday's clash between top East teams Philadelphia and Milwaukee. Phoenix Suns Arena 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. He first joined OKC as an assistant coach for their G League affiliate, the Tulsa 66ers. 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. Jan 27, PHO (8-8) lost to OKC, 97-102, 18. The Magic dealing Nikola Vucevic and Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline signaled them hitting the restart button, beginning from ground zero. The Pelicans will announce the hiring of Green after the 2021 NBA Finals. A graduate of Boise State University, Gates also has experience as an assistant coach in the G League and as head coach of the Oklahoma Storm in the United States Basketball League, Hickory Nutz in the Carolinas Basketball League and Beirut Blues Stars in the Lebanese Basketball League. Bryant is a native of Glen Ridge, New Jersey. In his first season, he led Torrelodones to the championship of the Primera Division de Baloncesto in Madrid, earning promotion to Liga EBA, Spains fourth-tier professional league. Born in Hollywood, Florida, Blake completed his high school playing career at Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. The 6-3 point guard was a member of nine teams to qualify for the playoffs, averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 assists in 53 career postseason games (13 starts). Jan 8 @ DET, PHO (6-3) lost to DET, 105-110, 10. In his role at Gonzaga, Fois handled video breakdown and exchange, evaluated player analytics and assisted the coaching staff with day-to-day program operations. Feb 22, PHO (20-10) beat POR, 132-100, 31. Scalzi joins the Suns following seven seasons on the coaching staff of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Feb 1 @ DAL, PHO (11-8) beat DAL, 109-108, 20. The Dallas Mavericks have had the Phoenix Suns' number since the tail-end of their playoff series. [2][3] The Suns play their home games at the Footprint Center (formerly the Phoenix Suns Arena, American West Arena and the US Airways Center).[1]. 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. Oops. The former Pelicans guard is in the midst of his second season as an assistant with the Suns. Apr 10, PHO (37-15) beat WAS, 134-106, 53. The move was first . 2020-21 Phoenix Suns Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 51-21, Finished 2nd in NBA Western Conference Coach: Monty Williams (51-21) Executive: James Jones PTS/G: 115.3 (7th of 30) Opp PTS/G: 109.5 (7th of 30) SRS: 5.67 (3rd of 30) Pace: 97.2 (26th of 30) Do you have a blog? He was the Big Ten Coach of the Year in both seasons and was the consensus national coach of the year for 1990-91. Young cores who are in need of guidance with a true culture-building mentality. Im November und Dezember 2021 blieben die Suns 18 Spiele in Folge ungeschlagen und stellten . Mike D'Antoni coached the Phoenix Suns the 20032008, to a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2005 and 2006. Kevin Young was also promoted to associate head coach as Willie Green had the same position the last two seasons before becoming head coach in New Orleans. Mar 18, PHO (26-13) lost to MIN, 119-123, 40. His first coaching position in pro basketball was as head coach of the Shamrock Rovers in the Irish Super League for the 2006-07 season, which followed time as an assistant coach at Utah Valley University and Oxford College. He was a member of Italys U16 National Team at the 2003 FIBA Europe U16 Championship in Madrid, and was a teammate of NBA veterans Danilo Gallinari and Gigi Datome in Italys junior national team program. Suns starting 5 crushes Bulls in 2nd straight win with Kevin Durant, Suns new dimensions flash in Kevin Durants debut, win over Hornets. Durant, a four-time scoring champion, now sets his sights on Hakeem Olajuwon in 12th place. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. --Brian Randle will be on a NBA bench next season as an assistant coach.The former Illinois forward has been hired by the Phoenix Suns to join Monty Williams' coaching staff for . The Phoenix Suns announced in a press release the promotion of Kevin Young to associate head coach, as well as the additions of Bryan Gates, Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi as assistant coaches. 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. New faces will accompany Monty Williams for the 2021-22 season. I am now a certified agent in NFLPA, NBPA, FIFA. Attendance: Net Rtg: +5.9 (3rd of 30), Preseason Odds: Young also served as the Sixers head coach at NBA Summer League in 2018. Its a tremendous collection of bright basketball minds who are also outstanding people, and we are already hard at work.. Or write about sports? The Phoenix Suns announced in a press release the promotion of Kevin Young to associate head coach, as well as the additions of Bryan Gates, Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi as assistant. The Phoenix Suns have hired Michael Ruffin, who coached under Williams in New Orleans, added Jamal Gross as player development coach/video coordinator and elevated Corey Vinson to the same titles as he was an assistant in both areas with the team last year. 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. Ruffinwas anassistant coach/player development coach for his final season with the Pelicans in 2019-20. He played alongside Chris Paul during the 2010-11 season as well. 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. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images), (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). 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. Frazier entered the coaching world as a graduate manager for the mens basketball program at George Mason University in 2017-18. Apr 17, PHO (40-16) lost to SAS, 85-111, 57. Activity After years of hard work I have finally completed my mission of becoming a sports agent. May 13, PHO (49-21) beat POR, 118-117, 71. Suns assistant Willie Green is ready to be a head coach, but Boston is a bad fit . 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. Frazier, 26, comes to Phoenix after serving as a video/player development assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks this past season, helping the Bucks reach the Eastern Conference Finals. Apr 22 @ BOS, PHO (42-17) lost to BOS, 86-99, 60. Updated: . newsletter, Phoenixs new twin towers have flashed greatness early, REPORT: Suns hiring Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as new CEO, Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (35-29) @ Bulls Post Game Pod. The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. . [1] It is also the last season under Robert Sarver 's ownership group, as he was suspended from league-wide activities on September 13, 2022 . Suns head coach Monty Williams has six assistant coaches working under him. Mar 13, PHO (25-12) lost to IND, 111-122, 39. 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. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images), (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images). John MacLeodis the franchise's all-time leader in coaching years and games won, winning the most regular-season and playoff games. Steve Scalzi is coming to the Suns after coaching seven years in Oklahoma City. Jack joins the coaching ranks after a 13-year NBA career as a player from 2005-2018. Following a lengthy playing career in the NBA G League and overseas, Strong entered the coaching ranks as assistant coach with the mens basketball program at Huntingdon College for two seasons from 2016-2018. The New Orleans Pelicans are nearing completion on a deal to hire Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green as head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Andrew Lopez. (Series Stats)Won NBA Western Conference Finals (4-2) versus Los Angeles Clippers Frazier earned Patriot League All-Defensive Team honors as a senior in 2015-16, and also excelled in the classroom and community, twice earning the Arthur Ashe Sports Scholar Award as well as the 2014-15 Patriot League Award for Outstanding Leadership and Character. Prior to joining the Thunder organization, Rajakovic spent three years as head coach of Torrelodones in Spain. 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. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Record: We present them here for purely educational purposes. Gates served as an assistant coach on Williams staff for each of their five seasons in New Orleans. 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. 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 11 @ POR, PHO (25-11) beat POR, 127-121, 37. Rajakovic began his coaching career at 16 years old with the youth teams of Borac Cacak in his hometown of Cacak, Serbia. In each of his first two seasons as a coach, he helped the Warriors win back-to-back NBA Championships in 2017 and 2018 before returning to the NBA Finals in 2019, and has received high praise from many in Golden States organization and beyond for his coaching knowledge and demeanor. 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 2021-22 Phoenix Suns season was their 54th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 29th season at the currently named Footprint Center, their first full season under that name after taking over the naming rights to the previously named Phoenix Suns Arena on July 16, 2021, during the 2021 NBA [5] Alvin Gentry was named head coach after Terry Porter was dismissed by the Suns after 51 games in 2008. In 2010-11, Green was a member of Williams first team as a head coach, averaging 8.7 points while appearing in 77 games to help New Orleans win 46 games and earn a playoff berth. The Phoenix Suns are hiring Detroit Pistons executive Josh Bartelstein as the team's new CEO, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists over 867 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. May 5 @ ATL, PHO (47-19) lost to ATL, 103-135, 68. Bryant played 15 total NBA seasons from 1988-2003 with Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Denver and Boston, averaging 5.4 points on 50.0% shooting and 3.8 rebounds in 797 regular season games, and also appeared in 79 playoff games with trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 as a member of the Trail Blazers. Welcome to the Valley. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. During educational tours of college basketball programs in the U.S., Rajakovic spent time attending practices and meeting with Lute Olson at the University of Arizona in 2003 and Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University in 2007. Do you have a sports website? 51-21, Finished 2nd in NBA Ruffin, 44, was . The Suns have promoted Kevin Young to associate head coach. The Dallas Mavericks have had the Phoenix Suns' number since the tail-end of their playoff series. Young served as an assistant coach in his first season with the Suns in 2020-21, helping the team win the Western Conference and advance to the NBA Finals. He served as an assistant coach for the Timberwolves in 2018-19 after working as the clubs advance scout in 2017-18. E-Mail: karen.marrero@nbacoaches.com. < 2021-22. On May 3, 2019, Williams became the 20th Head Coach* in Suns history. Fois was an assistant coach for Italys national team at FIBA EuroBasket 2017, serving on the staff of Ettore Messina, one of the best European basketball coaches of all time and currently an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs.