Mazzulla Named NBA Coach of the Year Finalist

Former West Virginia guard Joe Mazzulla has been selected as one of three finalists for NBA Coach of the Year

On Friday night, the NBA announced Boston Celtics head coach, and former West Virginia University guard, Joe Mazzulla one of three finalists for NBA Coach of the Year, joining Mike Brown (Sacramento Kings) and Mark Daigneault). 

Mazzulla guided the team to a 57-25 record, marking the second-most wins by a rookie head coach in Celtics history, just three wins short of the legendary Bill Russell, who the record with 60 wins in the 1966-67 season.

The former West Virginia University Mountaineers guard took over as the Celtics head coach on Sept. 23 after Ime Udoka had been suspended for the entire 2022-23 season following allegations of violating of team policies.

Apr 4, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Following his career at WVU, Mazzulla had a quick rise in the coaching ranks. He joined Glenville State as an assistant in September of 2011 before linking with Jarred Calhoun at Fairmont State from 2013 through 2016. He then took an opportunity as an assistant in the NBA G League for the Maine Red Claws prior to taking over the head coaching job at Fairmont State in 2017. After the 2019 season, he joined Brad Stevens' staff in Boston. He was recently a candidate for the head coaching position when Stevens stepped down and took over as GM in early June of last year but was retained as an assistant under Ime Udoka.

Mazzulla and the Celtics are facing the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. 

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Christopher Hall
CHRISTOPHER HALL

Member of the Football Writers Association of America, U.S. Basketball Writers Association and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.