Names to know in the Celtics’ head coaching search

With the news of Danny Ainge’s retirement and Brad Stevens’ promotion to the front office, the Celtics suddenly find themselves in need of a new head coach. It’s expected to be a coveted opening, and Stevens should have a wide pool of talent to pick from when choosing his successor.

Who are some of the names in that talent pool? Which coaches around the league – or outside the league – should fans be aware of? Here’s a roundup of some of the most popular names (that are at least somewhat realistic, sorry Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce fans) that were brought up Wednesday after the news broke, starting with the internal candidates.

• Jay Larranaga

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  One of the Celtics’ longest-tenured assistant coaches, Larranaga has been with the franchise since 2012. He was interviewed by the team during their last coaching search since 2013, and has since reportedly turned down multiple college head coaching offers to stay in Boston.

• Jerome Allen

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  Jerome Allen joined the Celtics in 2015 after spending six years as the head coach at his alma mater, Penn. Tatum has been highly complimentary of Allen in the past, and that relationship could factor in. Allen played three seasons in the NBA in the late 90’s. 

• Kara Lawson

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  Kara Lawson’s tenure with the Celtics was brief - it lasted just over a calendar year - but she made an impact during her time in Boston. She was reportedly very popular with the Celtics’ players, who continued to support her after she left the team last summer to become the head coach of the Duke women's program. Could a quick turnaround back to Boston be in store?
• Sam Cassell

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  Among the external candidates for the job, Sam Cassell has been one of if not the most popular names early in the conversation. He’s been an NBA assistant coach since 2009, spending time with the Clippers and Wizards before joining the Sixers this season. His 15-year playing career ended with the 2008 Celtics, and he’d bring the knowledge of what it takes to win a championship in Boston (one of his three career titles).

• Kenny Atkinson

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  Our own Jimmy Stewart was one of the first to float Kenny Atkinson’s name in regards to the Celtics. Atkinson has been in NBA coaching since 2008, and served as the head coach of the Nets from 2016-2020. He’s currently an assistant coach with the Clippers.

• Becky Hammon

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  San Antonio’s Becky Hammon has been one of the hottest names in coaching for a few years now. She was hired by Gregg Popovich in 2014 and has served as his top assistant since. Brad Stevens - who will be making the hire in Boston - was asked about her potential future as a head coach earlier this year.
• Jason Kidd

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  Would the third time be the charm for Jason Kidd? The 10-time all-star point guard has had rocky stints running the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks. He’s been an assistant with the Lakers since 2019. Kidd was directly linked to the Celtics by Yahoo’s Chris Haynes. 

• Chauncey Billups

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  Chauncey Billups is relatively new to coaching - he’s currently finishing up the first year of his first coaching job with the Clippers. That being said he had a long, successful career as a player that included a Finals win and Finals MVP in 2004. The Herald’s Mark Murphy was one of many who pointed him out as a candidate.

• Lloyd Pierce

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  Along with Kidd, Lloyd Pierce was named by Haynes as a candidate. Pierce spent 10 years as an assistant coach in the NBA before getting his chance with the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. His young teams struggled, and he was fired part way through the 2021 season.
• Juwan Howard

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  Juwan Howard is likely the biggest longshot on this list, and has been mentioned more as an ideal candidate than a realistic one. In his first full season as the head coach at Michigan, the Wolverines won the Big 10 and made it to the Elite Eight. Before heading to Ann Arbor he spent six seasons as an assistant with the Miami Heat - where he won two titles - following an NBA career that lasted almost two decades.

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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.