What was known for several days finally became official, as today the Golden State Warriors announced that they have finalized an agreement for Steve Kerr to become the team’s new head coach. Other outlets have reported that the deal is worth $25 million over the next five years.
Kerr was a leading candidate to take the New York Knicks coaching job and work for mentor Phil Jackson, but opted instead for the more talent-rich roster in Golden State. He will be introduced to the media at a press conference tomorrow in Oakland.
“I’m really excited about the unique opportunity to coach a very talented team and work for this committed management group,” said Kerr. “In my estimation, the Warriors, from top to bottom, have become one of the marquee organizations in the NBA in recent years. I’m looking forward to becoming part of that environment and building upon the success of the last two seasons.”
Kerr becomes the 25th head coach in franchise history and the 20th since the team moved to the West Coast in 1962. But the move is not without controversy, as Kerr has no NBA head coaching experience and will replace popular Mark Jackson.
“We’re very pleased to introduce Steve Kerr as our new head coach,” said Warriors General Manager Bob Myers. “We are confident that he will be an extremely good fit for our team and our organization as we venture into the future. The fact that he played for several of the greatest coaches in the history of the game – including Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich – will serve him well, as will the many nuances that he learned from performing on the brightest stage during his incredibly successful, championship-filled career.”
Kerr, 48, joins Golden State after spending the last four seasons as a color commentator with TNT, his second stint with the network. Prior to rejoining TNT in 2010, Kerr spent three seasons as the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager for the Phoenix Suns from 2007-10, during which time the club posted a 155-91 (.630) record and a pair of playoff berths, including a trip to the 2010 Western Conference Finals.
Kerr is one of only 25 players in NBA history to win five championships, earning three rings with Chicago and two with San Antonio. A key reserve for Chicago during the team’s three-peat championship run from 1996-98, Kerr famously hit the game-winning, title-clinching shot in Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
The NBA’s all-time three-point percentage leader, having converted on 45.4 percent (726-of-1599) of his attempts from long range, Kerr amassed career averages of 6.0 points, 1.8 assists and 1.2 rebounds in 910 regular-season games with the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs (twice), and Portland Trail Blazers.
During his career, Kerr played for some of the most successful coaches in the history of the game, including Phil Jackson, Gregg Popovich, Lenny Wilkens, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and Lute Olson.
By Staff of The Daily Sports Herald and news services
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