One of college basketball's best head coaches is leaving the college ranks to take a job in the National Basketball Association.
It was first reported by ESPN basketball insider Adrian Wojnarowski early Monday morning that University of Michigan head coach John Beilein has signed a five-year deal to become the next head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavaliers went on to make the announcement official later that afternoon.
It's official.Welcome to Cleveland, Coach Beilein!DETAILS: https://t.co/r8hQ52nCKX pic.twitter.com/pijJ1jzP6s
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs)
May 13, 2019 The Western New York native had spent the last 12 seasons as head coach of the Wolverines, leading the program to a 278-150 record in 428 games coached. In his overall coaching career at the Division-I level, Beilein has posted a 571-325 record while coaching at Canisius (MAAC), Richmond (CAA/A-10), West Virginia (Big East) and Michigan (Big Ten). Beilein has also made 12 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including four consecutive trips with the Wolverines. He also helped Michigan to appearances in two Final Four appearances in 2013 and 2018, but he had never won a NCAA title in his 27 years in Division-I college basketball.
The 66-year-old has always held a head coaching position in his coaching career, starting with Erie Community College in 1978, where he held that position for four years before heading to Division-III Nazareth College in 1982. After one year at Nazareth, Beilein went on to coach at the Division-II level with Le Moyne College from 1983 to 1992. Following nine successful seasons with Le Moyne, that's when Beilein made the jump to the Division-I level with the Golden Griffins.
Beilein was born and raised in Burt, New York in Niagara County, and went on to start his coaching career at Newfane High School in 1975. His son, Patrick, is the current head coach at Niagara University after spending the last four seasons coaching at Le Moyne.
