Head coach Larry Drew leaves Cleveland Cavaliers by mutual consent
Friday 12 April 2019 07:59, UK
Larry Drew will not return for a second season as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers after he and the team mutually agreed to part ways on Thursday.
The Cavs finished 19-63 in 2018-19 as Drew took over after the firing of Tyronn Lue in late October following the team's 0-6 start.
Drew was named interim head coach at first, before agreeing to a new deal on November 5.
"We have great respect and appreciation for Larry and the job that he did as the head coach of the Cavaliers for nearly the entire 2018-19 campaign," general manager Koby Altman said in a statement.
"He brought professionalism, class and steady leadership both this past season and prior four years.
"Larry and I had a productive discussion about this past season, the future of the franchise and the search process that we will shortly launch regarding the head coaching role. Larry respectfully declined to participate in the search process and will not be returning to coach the Cavaliers. All of us in Cleveland wish Larry nothing but the best going forward."
Drew, 61, previously was head coach of the Atlanta Hawks (2010-13) and Milwaukee Bucks (2013-14), and joined the Cavaliers initially as an assistant coach in 2014, then as the associate head coach.
The Cavaliers won their first NBA title during the 2015-16 season with Drew as associate head coach.
Drew went 8-1 as fill-in coach in the 2017-18 season while Lue was on a medical leave to deal with anxiety issues.
"I want to thank Dan Gilbert, Koby Altman, the entire organisation, and especially our fans, for what has been a very special and rewarding time here in Cleveland," said Drew, who was an NBA point guard from 1980-91.
"Koby and I had a good discussion following the season and have both decided that the best decision for each of us was that I would not return to coach the team.
"I am very proud of what we accomplished over the last several years together and will always cherish our Championship."
