According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Pete Thamel, Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire is finalizing a deal to become the head coach at Georgia Tech. Thamel says it is expected to be a five-year deal for Stoudamire.
This is a big loss for the Celtics. Stoudamire had been Joe Mazzulla’s lead assistant this season, and even filled in for Mazzulla when he was forced to miss two games in late December due to eye irritation. Stoudamire guided the Celtics to a 2-0 record in those two games.
Stoudamire joined the Celtics under Ime Udoka’s staff in 2021, and has been a key voice on the Celtics’ coaching staff. Prior to joining the Celtics’ staff, Stoudamire was the head coach at Pacific University for five seasons, guiding the Tigers to a 71-77 record. Stoudamire also spent time with the University of Arizona and University of Memphis as an assistant coach before landing the job at Pacific.
For a team with such high expectations, and just 14 games remaining in the regular season, this is not ideal for a rookie head coach in Mazzulla. With so many questions surrounding the rotation, a valuable voice like Stoudamire will be sorely missed.
According to Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe, Stoudamire has informed the Celtics players that he has accepted the job, and the Celtics have no immediate plans to fill the opening.