Celtics name Joe Mazzulla permanent head coach, officially replacing Ime Udoka

The Boston Celtics named Joe Mazzulla their permanent head coach, the team announced Thursday. Here’s what you need to know:

Mazzulla had been serving as interim head coach since Boston suspended Ime Udoka for the 2022-23 season in September.
Udoka’s suspension was a result of an intimate relationship with a female member of the organization, The Athletic reported.
Mazzulla has led Boston to a first-place 42-17 record in the Eastern Conference this season. He agreed to a contract extension with the Celtics along with the promotion; terms of the extension were not disclosed.
The 34-year-old is the 19th head coach in franchise history.

Backstory

Mazzulla stepped into the role this past fall after serving as an assistant coach for the Celtics since 2019. He was the only full-time assistant coach on Brad Stevens’ staff who remained during Udoka’s tenure, having also coached Boston’s NBA Summer League team in 2021. He was hired by Boston after serving as the coach at Fairmont State, a Division II school in West Virginia.

Mazzulla’s interim appointment came on the heels of Udoka’s suspension which the franchise said was due to violations of team policies. At the time, Boston said, “a decision about (Udoka’s) future with the Celtics beyond this season will be made at a later date.”

“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down,” Udoka said in a statement in September. “I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”

Udoka, 45, was heading into his second season at the helm in Boston after taking over in June 2021 for Stevens, who became president of basketball operations. The Celtics went 51-31 in the regular season last year and made it to the NBA Finals, where they lost in six games to the Golden State Warriors. Udoka was previously an assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets.

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

Why are the Celtics sticking with Mazzulla?

After taking over as interim coach days before training camp following Udoka’s suspension, Mazzulla steered the Celtics through an extremely difficult situation. He kept the players on the same page during an emotional time for the organization and won the league’s first Coach of the Month honor of the season after leading an 18-4 start. At the All-Star break, the Celtics are the lone team to rank in the top five in both offensive and defensive efficiency. As talented as they are, Mazzulla deserves plenty of credit for his role in guiding them to the top of the NBA standings. — King

Why did they make it official now?

After the Udoka suspension, the Celtics were widely expected to move on from him more permanently at some point. The question was when. Mazzulla’s early success made the decision easier. The organization also needed to figure out how to handle a complicated situation with Udoka. This move allows the Celtics to officially cut ties with their former coach. Around the league, people expect Udoka to land another opportunity eventually, as he nearly did earlier this season with the Nets. It just won’t be in Boston. — King

What they’re saying

“Joe is a very talented coach and leader,” Stevens said in a release Thursday. “He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission. We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point, and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future.”

Stevens told reporters later Thursday: “He’s an outstanding leader. I think he’s done a great job right from the get-go of galvanizing our locker room around a mission.”

“I know he gives a damn about everybody in that locker room. He really, really cares,” Stevens added. “It eats him up when something doesn’t go well individually for a guy. It eats him up when he feels like he’s let the team down.”

Brad Stevens said he didn't want a "cloud of uncertainty" hovering over the Celtics with Mazzulla's interim status. He believes in Mazzulla and the job he's done galvanizing the squad around one goal.

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) February 16, 2023

Required reading