Who is boston celtics coach

MIAMI — Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka had to pay his dues before being given the keys to run an NBA team from the sideline.

After former coach Brad Stevens decided to hang it up after eight seasons and head to the front office, the franchise had a paramount decision to make in the offseason of 2021.

Could the Celtics afford to hire a first-year head coach to lead a team on the cusp of greatness? That was the million-dollar question once Udoka’s name began circulating as a potential candidate.

A year later, that question is answered.

Udoka guided the Celtics to the NBA Finals for the first time in 12 years. It took several interviews and heartaches before he landed one of the precious 30 NBA gigs.

“The one thing I would say is the disappointment of coming in second a few years really hurt,” Udoka told Yahoo Sports after the Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday. “But if you told me I’d have to wait for Boston and get [bypassed] by some of the ones that I got beat out on, it's a no-brainer for me. I’m happy to be in Boston.”

Turns out, Udoka is one of the — if not the most — prized offseason pickups. The Celtics struck gold, but who were the other teams he finished second at in their coaching searches?

“You really want me to tell you? Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland,” Udoka told Yahoo Sports. “I can go down the list. That was tough because I believe I was ready. But I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of an organization that’s pushing for winning and championships. You can be in a lot of different situations. There are only 30 teams and I get that, but to not be in a rebuild and being in an expectation pressure-filled situation, I wouldn’t trade that in any day.”

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka took his team to the NBA Finals in his first year at the helm. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

The 44-year-old coach is not new to the coaching fraternity.

He spent seven seasons as an assistant in San Antonio under Gregg Popovich before taking the same role with Philadelphia under Brett Brown and lastly in Brooklyn with Steve Nash before making his way to Boston. His coaching journey followed after a seven-year NBA career.

“I was always confident once my name started getting out there,” Udoka told Yahoo Sports. “We had some success. Obviously, being in San Antonio helped that. The interview process started and there was a lot of interest, so it was just a matter of time. I was a finalist in a few destinations. So, I always had total faith in that it was a matter of the right fit.”

Though disappointed with each interview being accompanied with a rejection, he took the process in stride and looked inward.

“You try to improve and you get feedback from the interviews and what your weaknesses are perceived as,” he told Yahoo Sports. “I think for me, it’s easy. My career as a player, a journeyman, a role player that only had two guaranteed contracts out of my whole NBA career, it prepped me for that. It’s always been about putting your head down and grinding it out and figuring out a way to get it done. You don’t place the blame on anybody or any situation. You figure out how to get it done. That’s what I try to really impart on the team, but for me it’s, shake it off and keep it moving.

"I was in a great situation of learning in San Antonio. I had some great interviews and improved throughout the process, but it was a matter of fit. And so I couldn’t be more happier with this group.”

Now, Udoka is credited as a defensive mastermind, an excellent communicator who remains poised and one of the bright, young faces of the coaching profession. Black head coaches now make up half of the league, a record at any point in the NBA’s tenure.

“I mean the proof is in the pudding,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown told Yahoo Sports. “Look around the league. Now you’re starting to see what we can do in the coaching ranks. Before, the talk was that certain people of color were not qualified to do their jobs or whatever the excuse was. Man, you give these guys an opportunity and look what they did with it. First-year head coach Ime Udoka took us to the Finals. Look at Monty Williams in Phoenix, look at Dallas with Jason Kidd. You look at all these coaches around the league, and I’m happy to see that they’re finally getting an opportunity. Black coaches and people of color are deserving and they’re capable of getting the job done just like anybody else.”

Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka speaks to Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and guard Jaylen Brown during a game this postseason. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Udoka was a firm believer when he accepted the job that the tandem of Jayson Tatum and Brown could work long term toward championship aspirations.

The Celtics got off to a slow start this season, and Brown said he couldn’t help but hear the calls to have him traded.

“That trade talk was loud, and most of it came from Boston fans,” Brown told Yahoo Sports. “It’s a city that doesn’t tolerate excuses. But in reality, early in the season we had a new coach, we had a new front office, I missed about 15 games early in the season and that caused us to not be clicking on all cylinders like we wanted to be. People were impatient, so I understand. But fast forward, we got healthy, we got everybody back and now the sky’s the limit.”

Game 1 of the NBA Finals begins Thursday against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco. The Warriors are huge betting favorites going into the series.

Udoka and Brown both take the perceived underdog status in stride.

“We’ve been who we’ve been all year and our defense travels well and carried us through the playoffs,” Udoka told Yahoo Sports. “We’ve played Golden State well this year. We blasted them at their place, had a tough loss at our place early in the season. And so it’s a new series. We know who we are and the things we do well, so we’re confident in that.”

“The Warriors are a tough team to play against,” Brown told Yahoo Sports. “They’re smart, experienced and they’ve got a lot of firepower. I’m excited and looking forward to the challenge.”

The Boston Celtics are headed to the 2022 NBA Finals after defeating the Miami Heat on the road in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

One of the main reasons why Boston is just four wins away from the franchise's 18th championship is the brilliance of its rookie head coach, Ime Udoka.

Udoka has proven to be a great fit with this roster. He's maximized the production of so many players on the roster by putting them in the right roles to succeed. He's done an excellent job holding these players accountable, too, and pushing them hard enough to see consistent improvement. His defensive smarts have helped transform the Celtics into the league's most feared team on that end of the floor. He often makes the right adjustments, whether it's in-game tweaks or changes between games during a playoff series.

Forsberg: Celtics headed to Finals after taking on Udoka's personality

Simply put, the Celtics made a great hire bringing in Udoka at the beginning of the season.

But Udoka's journey to the head coaching ranks was not an easy one. Udoka was a highly regarded assistant for several years, and yet he was consistently passed over by teams with head coach vacancies.

In an interview with Yahoo! Sports' Chris Haynes after the Celtics' Game 7 win over the Miami Heat, Udoka revealed three teams that made him a finalist for their head coach job but ultimately chose the other candidate.

"You really want me to tell you? Detroit, Indiana, Cleveland," Udoka said. "I can go down the list. That was tough because I believe I was ready.

"But I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of an organization that’s pushing for winning and championships. You can be in a lot of different situations. There are only 30 teams and I get that, but to not be in a rebuild and being in an expectation pressure-filled situation, I wouldn’t trade that in any day."

Finishing second so many times had to be frustrating, but it all worked out in the end for Udoka, who landed one of the most prestigious coaching jobs in sports with the Celtics.

Instead of trying to rebuild the Pistons or lead good-but-not great Pacers and Cavaliers squads, Udoka now is in charge of leading one of the league's most complete roster, headlined by two young stars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

It wouldn't be surprising if Udoka is the head coach in Boston for a long time.

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BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics have named seven-year NBA veteran Ime Udoka the franchise's next head coach, making him the 18th head coach in the organization's 75-year history. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"I would like to welcome Ime, Nia, Kez, and Massai to the Boston Celtics. Among the many outstanding qualities that Ime brings to the table are his character, humility, and competitiveness. He has a relentless work ethic and a vast array of experiences as a player and coach," said Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens. "He's a leader that is warm and demanding, and we are so excited that he has chosen to join us in pursuit of Banner 18."

Udoka joins the Celtics franchise after spending the last nine NBA seasons as an assistant coach between San Antonio (2012-13 to 2018-19), Philadelphia (2019-20), and Brooklyn (2020-21). Teams that Udoka has served as an assistant coach on have qualified for the playoffs in all nine seasons, with one of those years resulting in an NBA championship (Spurs, 2014).

In addition to his coaching experience in the NBA, Udoka was also an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich and the USA Basketball Men's National Team in 2018.

"It's an honor to be a part of the historic Celtics franchise. Coaching this talented roster and working alongside Brad makes it an ideal situation," said Udoka. "I'd like to thank Wyc, Steve, and Brad for entrusting me with this opportunity. I look forward to getting started right away."

Udoka played 12 years of professional basketball, including seven seasons in the NBA from 2003-04 to 2010-11. He averaged 5.2 points on 41.7% shooting (35.6% 3-PT), 2.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 18.1 minutes in 316 career games with San Antonio, Portland, Sacramento, New York, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Udoka also represented Nigeria in international competition throughout his playing career, earning bronze medals in 2005 and 2011 at the African Championships.

"Ime stands out as a person of integrity, accomplishment, energy, and insight," said Celtics Co-Owner and Governor Wyc Grousbeck. "He has worked with some of the best and is ready to take the next step forward. I look forward to having him as our head coach."

"Ime's passion for basketball and coaching is extraordinary," said Celtics Co-Owner and Alternate Governor Steve Pagliuca. "He is respected by players and coaches throughout the league for his empathy, humility, and deep knowledge of the game. We are thrilled that he will be coming to Boston to lead our team."

A native of Portland, OR, Udoka, 43, began his collegiate career at Utah State University Eastern (1995-97) before transferring to the University of San Francisco (1997-98) and finishing up at Portland State (1999-00).