Celtics' Sam Cassell could be up for college head coach job

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – DECEMBER 19: Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, left, is held back by Assistant Coach Sam Cassell after he was issued a technical foul during the second half of the game against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden on December 19, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Bulls defeat the Celtics 117-108. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell is reportedly in the running for a head coaching job - in the college ranks.

Steve Bulpett reported last Thursday for Heavy.com that Cassell "will be in serious consideration" for the upcoming head coach opening at Florida State, as longtime Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton is retiring after the 2024-25 season. Cassell is an alum of Florida State, where he played 66 games in two seasons before making the jump to the NBA.

Since retiring in 2008, Cassell has been an NBA coach starting in the 2008-09 campaign, and has worked as an assistant for the Wizards, Clippers, and 76ers. He's been an assistant for the Celtics under Joe Mazzulla since 2023-24, and is now an NBA champion for the C's as both a player and a coach.

Jan 3, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Boston Celtics assistant coach Sam Cassell on the sideline against the Houston Rockets during the game at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images

Erik Williams-Imagn Images

<sup>Sam Cassell</sup>

Cassell spoke directly to Bulpett about the report, and said that he hasn't heard from Florida State himself. He also said he's "extremely comfortable" in his current role with the Celtics, who are 39-16 and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference as they look to defend their reigning NBA championship.

It's curious that Cassell hasn't received a ton of NBA head coaching interest, although he's interviewed with the Lakers and Clippers in the past. If he can win another title with the Celtics, and trace some of their success back to himself, he should be able to get a head coaching gig somewhere.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.

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Matt DolloffWriter

Matt, a North Andover, Massachusetts native, has been with The Sports Hub since 2010. Growing up the son of Boston University All-American and Melrose High School hall-of-fame hockey player Steve Dolloff, sports was always a part of his life. After attending Northeastern University, Matt focused his love of sports on writing, extensively writing about all four major Boston teams. He also is a co-host of the Sports Hub Underground podcast and is a regular on-air contributor on the Sports Hub. Matt writes about all New England sports from Patriots football to Boston Celtics and Boston Bruins.