He served as an assistant coach on Williams staff in New Orleans for all five seasons Williams was the teams head coach from 2010-2015. The Thunder averaged 49 wins in his five seasons as an assistant coach with four playoff appearances, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 2016 when he shared the bench with Williams and Bryant. Updated: 4:47 PM MST September 24, 2021 PHOENIX Michael Ruffin will be joining the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach, the organization announced Friday. He averaged 10.8 points and 4.6 assists over 867 career regular season games with Portland, Indiana, Toronto, New Orleans, Golden State, Cleveland, Brooklyn and New York. John MacLeodis the franchise's all-time leader in coaching years and games won, winning the most regular-season and playoff games. Mar 30, PHO (32-14) beat ATL, 117-110, 47. Familiarity is very important to Monty Williams. The native of Silver Spring, Maryland worked as an equity capital markets analyst from 2016-2017 before his time at George Mason. His brother, Andy, is also an experienced NBA assistant coach. Before entering the coaching ranks, Greer played collegiately at Northeastern University and was the teams captain during his senior season in 1988-89. At 39, Green would become the third-youngest coach in the NBA behind the Oklahoma City Thunder's Mark Daigneault (35) and the Memphis Grizzlies' Taylor Jenkins (36). Apr 28, PHO (44-18) beat LAC, 109-101, 63. In two seasons as Tulsas head coach, Rajakovic recorded a 51-49 record and a trip to the G League semifinals in 2013. The Suns are also chronologically the third-oldest team in the NBA to have never won an NBA Championship while having played in the NBA Finals at least once. Bryant played 15 total NBA seasons from 1988-2003 with Portland, Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Denver and Boston, averaging 5.4 points on 50.0% shooting and 3.8 rebounds in 797 regular season games, and also appeared in 79 playoff games with trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 as a member of the Trail Blazers. According to a warrant for Morrow's arrest, he's facing charges of assault by strangulation, second-degree kidnapping and communicating threats. Young joined Williams staff in Phoenix last season. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Gates will reunite with Williams after working for him for five seasons (2010-2015) with the Pelicans. In addition to playing under Williams as an assistant coach with Portland for the 2007-08 season, Blake was a teammate of Suns General Manager James Jones. The Phoenix Suns franchise has had 20head coaches. Green served as the Warriors head coach for NBA Summer League in 2018, both in Las Vegas and at the inaugural California Classic in Sacramento where he led Golden State to the events only perfect 3-0 record. Suns starting 5 crushes Bulls in 2nd straight win with Kevin Durant, Suns new dimensions flash in Kevin Durants debut, win over Hornets, Kevin Durant gives strong 1st impression to Suns with 23 points in win, Josh Okogie gets Suns 5th starter nod alongside debuting Kevin Durant. PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns today announced the promotion of Kevin Young to associate head coach, as well as the additions of Bryan Gates, Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi as assistant. For part of his tenures with both the Thunder and Trail Blazers, Greer served as the advance scout for coaching staffs that included Williams. The start of the Kevin Durant era mid-season with the Phoenix Suns will be some brilliance mixed with some stagnation. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - According to ESPN, Phoenix Suns assistant coach Willie Green is the frontrunner on a shortlist to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.. Green has 12 years . Won NBA Western Conference First Round (4-2) versus Los Angeles Lakers Apr 12, PHO (38-15) beat HOU, 126-120, 55. This is his first coaching gig. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. Player development/video coordinator: Corey Vinson. The 2021-22 Phoenix Suns season was their 54th season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as well as their 29th season at the currently named Footprint Center, their first full season under that name after taking over the naming rights to the previously named Phoenix Suns Arena on July 16, 2021, during the 2021 NBA Executive Director of Phoenix Suns Charities: 2018-2019: 5-United States: Blake Pallansch: Manager, The Source: . AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Bryant, a former Suns player, returns to Phoenix after most recently spending 12 seasons as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Jan 9 @ IND, PHO (7-3) beat IND, 125-117, 11. The Phoenix Suns franchise has had 20 head coaches. Alvin Gentry coached the coached the Phoenix Suns the 20092013, to a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2010. Apr 22 @ BOS, PHO (42-17) lost to BOS, 86-99, 60. Most recently, Jack averaged 8.9 points in 15 appearances for the NBA G League Ignite during the 2021 NBA G League season held at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Florida this past February. Activity After years of hard work I have finally completed my mission of becoming a sports agent. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: Willie Green appears at the 7th Annual New York City TopSpin Charity [+] Event at Metropolitan Pavilion on December 9, 2015 in New York City. Jan 22, PHO (8-6) lost to DEN, 126-130, 15. Fois, 32, comes to the Suns after spending the past five seasons working for Gonzaga Universitys mens basketball program, elevating to the title of director of analytics. Jan 18 @ MEM, PHO (7-5) lost to MEM, 104-108, 13. Does that change with two new stars? Young served as an assistant coach in his first season with the Suns in 2020-21, helping the team win the Western Conference and advance to the NBA Finals. In his role at Gonzaga, Fois handled video breakdown and exchange, evaluated player analytics and assisted the coaching staff with day-to-day program operations. LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 03: New Orleans Pelicans assistant Michael Ruffin before the New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball game on January 03, 2019, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. Orlando is beginning their rebuild officially after toiling around for years in limbo. A native of Detroit, he won Horizon League Player of the Year as a senior in 2003 and helped the Titans to two NIT appearances in 2001 and 2002, including a trip to the semifinals at Madison Square Garden in 2001. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Its a privilege for me to announce our coaching staff, said Williams. Coach Ruffin was born in Denver, Colorado and played for and graduated from the University of Tulsa. Five years later, Jeff Van Gundy still gets emotional, recalling the funeral service for Ingrid Williams, wife of Suns coach Monty Williams. There are plenty of learning opportunities that lie ahead for all coaches added to the team. The new assistant in Phoenix had a nine-year playing career from 1999-2009, spending time on the Bulls, 76ers, Jazz, Wizards, Bucks and the Blazers. Are you a sports fan? The Phoenix Suns on Friday announced the addition of assistant coach Michael Ruffin, plus Jamal Gross and Corey Vinson to the title of player development coach/video coordinator. Head coach: Monty Williams. In 2010-11, Green was a member of Williams first team as a head coach, averaging 8.7 points while appearing in 77 games to help New Orleans win 46 games and earn a playoff berth. [5] Alvin Gentry was named head coach after Terry Porter was dismissed by the Suns after 51 games in 2008. I am now a certified agent in NFLPA, NBPA, FIFA. Congrats, Kevin!. Phoenix coach Monty Williams is hiring Bryan Gates as an assistant to replace Willie Green, who left to become New Orleans head coach, sources tell ESPN. Event at Metropolitan Pavilion on December 9, 2015 in New York City. The Suns have promoted Kevin Young to associate head coach. Originally the 21st overall pick in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft by Portland, Bryant played four seasons at Seton Hall University and left the program ranked fifth in school history in total points and total rebounds. Feb 28 @ MIN, PHO (22-11) beat MIN, 118-99, 34. Mar 31, PHO (33-14) beat CHI, 121-116, 49. Learn more and register, Height of bar is margin of victory Mouseover bar for details Click for box score Grouped by Month, 2. "Alvin Gentry Named Interim Head Coach by the Suns", "Suns Agree to Terms with Igor Kokokov To Become New Head Coach", "Suns Name Earl Watson Interim Head Coach", "Suns Relieve Earl Watson of Head Coaching Duties", "Suns Agree to Terms with Monty Williams To Become New Head Coach", National Basketball Association head coaches, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Phoenix_Suns_head_coaches&oldid=1092301247, Lists of National Basketball Association head coaches by team, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Suns, This page was last edited on 9 June 2022, at 12:48. Young, considered a good coach and even better person, coached the offense in Philly with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. He was selected 53rd overall in the third round of the 1978 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, then played professionally for the Reno Bighorns of the Western Basketball Association before returning to Miami and entering the coaching ranks. Suns assistant and former NBA player Willie Green is nearing completion on a deal with the Pelicans to become the team's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Join our linker program. Mar 18, PHO (26-13) lost to MIN, 119-123, 40. In assembling a staff, the goal was simple: identify high-character individuals with high-level experience who will work relentlessly to develop a culture of championship habits here in Phoenix. Jan 11 @ WAS, PHO (7-4) lost to WAS, 107-128, 12. NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, *Translations are limited to select pages, Joerger, Cassell join Sixers' coaching staff, Former NBA guard Mo Williams named Alabama State coach, Jazz add Dell Demps, Keyon Dooling to coaching staff, 5 stats to know for 76ers-Bucks matchup on ABC, Brooks suspended after receiving 16th technical foul, Grizzlies' Clarke (torn achilles) out indefinitely, Ja issues apology, will miss 'at least' 2 games, Ex-NBA player Morrow facing assault charges, Durant passes 'Big O' for 13th in career points. The Phoenix Suns have hired Michael Ruffin, who coached under Williams in New Orleans, added Jamal Gross as player development coach/video coordinator and elevated Corey Vinson to the same titles as he was an assistant in both areas with the team last year. He qualified for the playoffs seven times in his 12 seasons, averaging 5.2 points in 36 career playoff games (12 starts). If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. The latest coaching additions are continuous proof of that. The Suns will reportedly hire assistant coach Bryan Gates to reunite him with Monty Williams after being an assistant to Phoenix's head coach in New Orleans from 2010-15. It was only Kevin Durant's first game with the Suns but the tantalizing upside of him in the Valley came oozing out of Wednesday's win. Ayers also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with both the Orlando Magic (2005-2007) and Washington Wizards (2007-2009), and another season as an assistant coach with Philadelphia in 2009-10, before joining Williams staff in New Orleans. Prior to joining Oklahoma Citys organization, Scalzi spent seven years as the director of basketball operations for the mens basketball program at Northeastern University. Feb 19 @ NOP, PHO (18-10) beat NOP, 132-114, 29. Jack and Williams also were together in Portland from 2005-2008, Jacks first three NBA seasons as a player and Williams first three NBA seasons as an assistant coach. A 12-year NBA veteran, Green has been an assistant with the Suns for the past two seasons and spent the previous three seasons on the Golden State Warriors' coaching staff. In the end, New Orleans didn't even make the Western Conference play-in tournament. Associate. New faces will accompany Monty Williams for the 2021-22 season. Feb 22, PHO (20-10) beat POR, 132-100, 31. Data Provided By 104,027 (4th of 30), NBA 2021 Playoffs: The Phoenix Suns' starting lineup with Kevin Durant was announced pregame on Wednesday, revealing the team's fifth starter. You may opt-out by. Brooks will serve his 1-game suspension Sunday when the Grizzlies visit the Clippers. The deal is expected to be finalized this week. Blake played in all 138 games during his college career and remains Marylands all-time leader in games started (136) and assists (972) with 200 more assists than second place. Apr 10, PHO (37-15) beat WAS, 134-106, 53.