The Phoenix Suns today announced Head Coach Monty Williams' coaching staff, naming Willie Green, Darko Rajakovic, Mark Bryant, Randy Ayers, Larry Greer and Steve Blake as assistant. 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. All rights reserved. . [28] Not only that, but Fort Wayne Mad Ants assistant coach Michael Ruffin was confirmed to be the official assistant coach replacement for Steve Blake, with Jarrett Jack joining Steve Scalzi as player development assistant coaches going into this season. Ayers, 63, brings to the Suns over 35 years of coaching experience, including as an NBA and college head coach, and has most recently spent the past three seasons as a pro scout with the Brooklyn Nets. Prior to joining the Thunder organization, Rajakovic spent three years as head coach of Torrelodones in Spain. Ayers best seasons came in 1990-91 and 1991-92 when he led the Buckeyes to consecutive No. Before returning to the NBA with Oklahoma City in 2015, Greer spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Arizona State University from 2012-2015. Feb 26 @ CHI, PHO (21-11) beat CHI, 106-97, 33. Phoenix Suns coaching staff enjoying 'once-in-a-lifetime' NBA All-Star The Phoenix Suns Are Seeking Redemption And Dominating Along - Forbes Suns GM James Jones NBA executive of the year - The Arizona Republic The Suns' trade for Kevin Durant in February has made them serious title contenders even though they are the No. 51-21, Finished 2nd in NBA His tenure with the Thunder featured a Western Conference Championship in 2012, plus three additional trips to the Western Conference Finals, including in 2016 when Williams was the teams associate head coach. A day after that, the Suns also re-signed Abdel Nader to a two-year deal worth $4,200,000 (second year being a team option), with his signing also being official on August 6. Select the players you wish to trade from the rosters below. Underwhelming is an issue, however, as Phoenix needs peripheral support with Kevin Durant and Devin Booker supplying over half of the Suns' points Saturday. Gates served as an assistant coach on Williams staff for each of their five seasons in New Orleans. For the second straight year in a row, the Suns were in the NBA Playoffs after previously experiencing a decade-long drought from it that started back in the 201011 season. 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. Join our linker program. He led the ACC in assists per game in each of his final three seasons, and led the NCAA in total assists in 2002. 1 regional seeds in the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 1991 and the Elite Eight in 1992. The Suns were not expected to come this close to an NBA championship this season. A graduate of Boise State University, Gates also has experience as an assistant coach in the G League and as head coach of the Oklahoma Storm in the United States Basketball League, Hickory Nutz in the Carolinas Basketball League and Beirut Blues Stars in the Lebanese Basketball League. He has been a NBA assistant coach since 2009 and served on Williams staff for each of their five seasons together in New Orleans from 2010-2015. Ayers, 63, brings to the Suns over 35 years of coaching experience, including as an NBA and college head coach, and has most recently spent the past three seasons as a pro scout with the Brooklyn Nets. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. Ayers best seasons came in 1990-91 and 1991-92 when he led the Buckeyes to consecutive No. [21], During the 2021 NBA Finals run on July 12, assistant coach Willie Green agreed to become the new head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans to enter this season. Apr 19 @ MIL, PHO (41-16) beat MIL, 128-127, 58. Phoenix Suns Staff & Executives - RealGM Feb 28 @ MIN, PHO (22-11) beat MIN, 118-99, 34. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images), (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images). It's been nearly a week since both teams wrapped their first-round series up in five games, and the . [4] With the Suns 63rd win over the Los Angeles Lakers on April 5 (which also eliminated them from playoff/play-in contention), the Suns set a franchise record for most wins in a season, surpassing the 199293 and 200405 teams with 62. His first coaching position in pro basketball was as head coach of the Shamrock Rovers in the Irish Super League for the 2006-07 season, which followed time as an assistant coach at Utah Valley University and Oxford College. The 6-3 point guard was a member of nine teams to qualify for the playoffs, averaging 4.6 points and 2.5 assists in 53 career postseason games (13 starts). Blakes most successful seasons as a player came with Portland in 2005-06 and from 2007-2010 when Williams served as an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers. Before beginning his career as an NBA assistant coach, Gates spent three seasons as head coach of the NBA G Leagues Idaho Stampede from 2006-2009, compiling a 101-51 (.644) record, twice winning the NBA G League Coach of the Year Award and guiding the Stampede to the 2008 NBA G League Championship. Phoenix Suns Announce Coaching Staff | NBA.com When LA Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue entered the postgame press conference room at Footprint Center about 20 minutes after the Phoenix Suns won Game 5, his face was flushed with emotion.. Apr 30, PHO (45-18) beat UTA, 121-100, 64. Despite that, they will go into Game 2 with loads of optimism.