Phoenix Suns hire Monty Williams as new head coach
Saturday 4 May 2019 07:50, UK
The Phoenix Suns have hired Monty Williams as their new head coach.
Williams, currently an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers, replaces the fired Igor Kokoskov and becomes the Suns' seventh head coach in eight years under owner Robert Sarver.
"I'm honoured to become head coach of the Phoenix Suns and very grateful to Robert Sarver and James Jones for entrusting me with the opportunity," Williams said in a statement.
"I am also thankful to the 76ers organisation for their support throughout the process and remain committed to pursuing the goals we set out to achieve this season.
"I've been blessed to coach alongside and play for some of the best coaches in the NBA, and consider it a privilege to once again be a head coach with an excellent organisation like the Suns.
"It is a tremendous opportunity with a talented group of players and a loyal fan base. I will be very excited to get to the Valley, connect with our team and get to work."
Williams will join the Suns after the 76ers' current postseason run concludes. They lead the Toronto Raptors 2-1 in the second round.
James Jones, general manager of the Phoenix Suns said: "I am thrilled to welcome Monty Williams to the Suns family as our next head coach.
"Monty brings a wealth of NBA experience, both as a coach and former player, in addition to being a high-character individual who will infuse basketball wisdom and life lessons into our locker room.
"Monty is well respected for his coaching pedigree, leadership and commitment to the community, all of which make him the ideal person to lead our team moving forward."
The Suns are coming off a season in which they finished with the worst record in the Western Conference at 19-63.
Williams was the New Orleans Pelicans' head coach from 2010-15, compiling a 173-221 record. In five seasons, his teams reached the postseason twice, losing in the first round each time.
The 47-year-old also served as an assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers (2005-10) and Oklahoma City Thunder (2015-16) before taking a job with the 76ers under head coach Brett Brown last June.
He had also been a candidate for the Los Angeles Lakers' head coach opening before joining the Suns.
