The New Orleans Pelicans have hired Golden State Warriors associate head coach Alvin Gentry as their new coach.
Gentry had a second interview with the Pelicans on Friday. They hired him on Saturday night. The deal is for four years and $13.75 million and includes a$4 million team option in the final year, according to Yahoo Sports. Gentry will replace Monty Williams who was fired despite the fact that he led the Pelicans to 45 wins and the playoffs. He will stay with the Warriors until the end of the playoffs.
''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, the Associated Press notes. ''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.''
This will be the fifth time that Gentry has been a head coach. He has been the head coach for the Miami Heat, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Phoenix Suns. Gentry has also been the assistant coach for eight NBA teams and three college teams. As a head coach he has a 335-370 career record, according to Fox Sports. He has a 12-9 record in the playoffs.
Former Denver Nuggets coach Brian Shaw is interested in replacing Gentry as the Warriors associate head coach. The Warriors are facing the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.