Celtics name Joe Mazzulla interim head coach for 2022-23

Joe Mazzulla (YouTube)

According to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports, the Boston Celtics have named Joe Mazzulla of Johnston, New York their head coach for the 2022-23 season. Mazzulla takes over from Ime Udoka of Portland, Oregon, who was suspended for a full season for an improper relationship with a female Celtics staff member.

Udoka was initially hired as the Celtics head coach on June 28, 2021. This past season the Celtics were tied with the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers for the second best record in the Eastern Conference at 51 wins and 31 losses. They were two games back of the Miami Heat, who were at 53 wins and 29 losses. It was in the playoffs where the Celtics were the most impressive. They swept the Brooklyn Nets four games to none in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, knocked out the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and then eliminated the Miami Heat in seven games in the Eastern Conference finals, before losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games in the NBA Finals.

Mazzulla had been the Celtics assistant coach since 2019. Prior to that he spent seven seasons coaching at the National Collegiate Athletic Association from 2011 to 2016, and again from 2017 to 2019. Mazzulla was the head coach at Fairmont State University (NCAA Division II) in Fairmont, West Virginia from 2017-19. He was also an assistant coach at Glenville State (2011-2013) and Fairmont State (2013-2016). Like Fairmont State, Glenville State was part of NCAA Division II. Mazzulla also coached the Maine Red Claws, the Celtics G League affiliate for the 2016-17 season.

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