Celtics’ internal head coach candidates identified in new report

Author Sports Hub Staff

June 10th, 2021 3:26 PM

Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens recently completed interviews with internal candidates for the team’s vacant head coaching job. A few key names from the search have emerged in a new report.

According to Jared Weiss of The Athletic, three familiar names on the Celtics’ assistant coaching staff have interviewed for the head coach position: Jay Larranaga, Jerome Allen, and Scott Morrison.

Both Larranaga and Allen have been key to the development of the Celtics’ young roster over the past several seasons, as explained by Weiss. Allen has worked with the guards and helped develop Jaylen Brown, among others. Larranaga, meanwhile, is described as “the face of Boston’s player development program” and credited with improving Jayson Tatum’s defensive game. Morrison is known in the organization as a coach with “thoroughness as an offensive tactician.”

Weiss’ report comes the day after ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Celtics have completed interviews internally, and will now turn to external head coach candidates. Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups is among the most notable names to emerge. Keep scrolling for a comprehensive list of potential Celtics head coach candidates to know.

• 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.

MORE: Celtics set to interview external head coach candidates

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Author Sports Hub Staff

Category:

• Celtics
• News

Tags:

Boston Celtics,Brad Stevens,Jay Larranaga,Jerome Allen,NBA,scott morrison