Assistant coaches

[LV-Suns]

Suns begin interviewing assistant coach candidates

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/118762#slCommentsMatt Paulson, Tribune



The Suns began the interview process in their search for assistant coaches on Tuesday, bringing in former Chicago Bulls head coach Bill Cartwright.
Buck Williams, an ex-teammate of new coach Terry Porter, will interview Wednesday.


Suns zero in on draft-pick options


One of the Suns’ top priorities in filling out Porter’s staff is hiring a former all-star big man known for being strong defensively and a good rebounder -- a coach who can help bring along Amare Stoudemire’s development.


Cartwright (7-foot-1) and Williams (6-8) both fit that mold.


Cartwright, who has been an assistant with the New Jersey Nets since 2004-05, averaged 13.2 points and 6.3 rebounds over a 15-year NBA career with New York, Chicago and Seattle. He was a teammate of Suns general manager Steve Kerr in Chicago in 1993-94 and also was an assistant on the 1996-97 and ’97-98 Bulls team that included Kerr and won NBA titles.


Cartwright was 51-100 in 2 ½ seasons as the Bulls coach from 2001-03.


Williams was a three-time all-star with the Nets in the 1980s and averaged 14.2 points and 11.0 rebounds over 17 seasons with New Jersey, Portland and New York. He and Porter were members of the 1989-90 and ’91-92 Trail Blazers teams that advanced to the Finals. Williams was known for his blue-collar work ethic and getting the most out of his ability.


Since retiring in 1998, Williams has worked in information technology, coached his son’s AAU team and is currently the vice president of a construction and building supply company, according to a recent article in the New York Times.


Additionally, the Suns have had talks with San Antonio Spurs assistant Chip England who has a reputation as one of the league’s best developers of talent.


Phoenix would like to have its staff of four assistants in place by July 3, a week before the front office meets in preparation for summer league.


Also on the Suns list off candidates are Alvin Gentry and Jay Humphries, holdovers from former coach Mike D’Antoni’s staff, Suns TV color analysts Dan Majerle, who played with Porter in Miami, and Eddie Johnson and former player Jeff Hornacek.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/118762


Paul Silas out of the picture?

 

[Irish]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/06/17/20080617suns0618.html

Suns interview Cartwright for asst.

Engelland, Buck Williams scheduled in coming days

29 commentsby Paul Coro - Jun. 17, 2008 07:16 PM
The Arizona Republic
One coaching job filled. Four to go.

With new Suns coach Terry Porter back in the Valley for good this week, the Suns returned to work on filling out the bench staff Tuesday by interviewing New Jersey assistant coach Bill Cartwright for one of four assistant-coaching jobs.

Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said he already has interviewed San Antonio assistant Chip Engelland for an assistant position and plans to meet with former Porter teammate Buck Williams this week.

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Kerr said Suns assistants Alvin Gentry and Jay Humphries, under contract for one more year, and Suns television broadcast analysts Dan Majerle and Eddie Johnson are still in the mix.

Mike D'Antoni's other assistants from recent years, Phil Weber and Dan D'Antoni, are expected to join his New York Knicks staff. Coaches who interviewed during the head-coach search, such as Paul Silas and Jeff Hornacek, remain possibilities to join the staff.

"The big thing for me is experience next to Terry," Kerr said. "He's still a young coach. To put guys next to him with experience is important.

"Terry and I have to collaborate on this because I have a feeling for what this team needs, and he has a feeling for who he'll work well with."

Cartwright's contract with New Jersey expired this year after four seasons as a Nets assistant coach. He was Chicago's head coach for 151 games, including all of the 2002-03 season, after serving as a Bulls assistant for six seasons, including the 1997 and 1998 championship teams.

Cartwright, a center known as "Teach" as a player, had a 15-year career with three title teams, an All-Star year and one season as Kerr's teammate (1993-94).

Kerr said he felt that the Suns staff was lacking a big-man coach last season after Marc Iavaroni went to Memphis.

Finding mentors and coaches to foster Amaré Stoudemire's progress is a priority.

"The physical presence of looking someone in the eyes is important," Kerr said.

"When you're coaching, that means something and the credentials of fighting Shaq on the court and having them do it. It's not just a theory. It's, 'I did it.' "

Kerr sees his ideal staff as being a blend of experienced coaches who will offer advice and in-game strategy and younger coaches focusing on daily development.

Engelland, like Weber, is known as a shooting coach who counts Kerr and Grant Hill among the players he has advised, and his work with Tony Parker is most acclaimed.

He spent two years in player development with Denver and three years as a Spurs assistant. He would have to be promoted to an expanded role to leave his Spurs contract.

Williams was known for his character and fundamentally sound game during 17 NBA seasons, spending six as Porter's teammate in Portland with trips together to the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals. A former players union president, Williams has not coached in the NBA since retiring in 1998. He has been a Washington, D.C., construction-supply company executive.

 

[carey]

Does anyone else find it strange that we only seem to interview people that Kerr has worked with previously in some cpacity?

The Engelland hire would be kind of interesting. We definitely need someone to replace Phil Weber. I'm not sure what to think about Cartwright. He was a serviceable big, but a mediochre coach. Don't we need someone a little more high profile to get into Amare's head a little bit?

 

[joshstmarie]

Dear God...... dan majerle? the guy thats drunk 90% of the time hes on air..

ok kerr ive had your back but if #9 gets a clipboard its OVER.

 

[HooverDam]

Does anyone else find it strange that we only seem to interview people that Kerr has worked with previously in some cpacity?

No, not really. It seems quite natural to me to look into hiring people you know and have trust in. It happens in nearly every field, not just sports.

Personally I'm hoping they hire Paul Silas as the lead assistant/Big man coach, but I would be OK w/ Cartwright. Silas though brings championships, All Star game appearances, All Defensive team honors, and head coaching experience to the bench. Throw in that he's an Arizona native, and he hilariously called Carlos Boozer the C word, and I think you've got the perfect guy to teach Amare how to become a complete player, and to help mentor Terry Porter.

 

[SirStefan32]

Man, can you imagine the comedy- Silas and Shaq?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Whomever Porter wants/is compatible with, is whom we should hire.

 

[Irish]

Whomever Porter wants/is compatible with, is whom we should hire.

In my mind, it is only to a point. Kerr has made it clear he wants veteran coaches to support Porter. I'm not sure that Porter would be "comfortable" with Silas, but this is guy they need because he is proven big man coach with lots and lost of general game experience.

BTW, out of town papers keep saying that Gentry wil return because he's under contract. There is a certain logic of having a guy on staff who knows all the players in detail.

 

[carey]

BTW, out of town papers keep saying that Gentry wil return because he's under contract. There is a certain logic of having a guy on staff who knows all the players in detail.

Agreed. Also Gentry has a good relationship with Hill and Chip England apparently. I'm still not sold on Cartwright, but I'm o.k. with Gentry and England at this point.

 

[Mainstreet]

I never understood why Jay Humphries was chosen as an assistant coach when there were so many better qualified candidates. I would think he would be leaving unless the Suns don't want to pay the extra bucks to replace him. I believe he has another year left on his contract.

 

[Irish]

I never understood why Jay Humphries was chosen as an assistant coach when there were so many better qualified candidates. I would think he would be leaving unless the Suns don't want to pay the extra bucks to replace him. I believe he has another year left on his contract.

Somehow I just KNEW somebody would point that out. I was opposed to hiring Humprhires last summer and see no evidence that he made any progress, but that is neirther here nor there. My guess is that Humprhires will end up with a front office job or perhaps as a scout.

 

[hafey]

Well they hired humphries at the expense of thibadeau. Oops.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Well they hired humphries at the expense of thibadeau. Oops.

You mean Porter right? Thibadeau wouldn't have accepted any position on the Suns other than HC.

 

[Irish]

You mean Porter right? Thibadeau wouldn't have accepted any position on the Suns other than HC.

Last summer, that is what Kerr was supposedly pushing. This was just one of the issues Kerr had with D'Antoni.

 

[hafey]

Nope. Last summer Thibadeau interviewed for the open assistant coaching position with the suns. Jay humphries was ultimately hired for that position and Thibadeau would go on to be hired by the celtics later last summer.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Nope. Last summer Thibadeau interviewed for the open assistant coaching position with the suns. Jay humphries was ultimately hired for that position and Thibadeau would go on to be hired by the celtics later last summer.

I see. I thought we were talking about the hiring, when he was a prospective HC candidate.

I get what you are saying.

 

[BC867]

My wife and I just returned from a week's vacation in southern California -- San Diego, Santa Barbara and L.A.

I kept up with the D'backs box scores in the L.A. Times, but heard nothing about the Suns.

I, too, am happy with Bill Cartwright to coach the big men. And Thunder Dan will certainly bring some enthusiasm (although somewhat goofy) to the team.

I was hoping to hear that Chip Hale had replaced sleepy Bob Melvin as Manager of the D'backs, but no such luck.

Go Cartwright. Go Thunder Dan. The Suns are moving in a positive direction.

I am looking forward to the draft and to a trade . . . and to next season.