After parting ways with successful coach Mike Budenholzer, the Atlanta Hawks have found their new leader. The Hawks have officially agreed to terms with Lloyd Pierce to be the team’s new head coach.
OFFICIAL: We have reached an agreement in principle with Lloyd Pierce to become our new head coach!#TrueToAtlanta pic.twitter.com/ANAkXMI5ht
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) May 11, 2018
Pierce was an asssitant with the Philadelphia 76ers under Brett Brown for five years. He interviewed for the position while the Sixers were in their playoff battle with the Boston Celtics. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Marcus Spears report that Pierce’s deal with Atlanta is for three years with an option on the fourth year.
“Lloyd Pierce checks every box, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him leading the Atlanta Hawks into the future,” Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk says in a statement via NBA.com.
“This is a day I’ve been working towards for a long time and it’s an honor to be the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks,” Pierce says in the same statement. “I have great respect for Travis and strong belief in his plan to bring a championship to the city of Atlanta. After spending time with ownership, it’s clear they have a deep investment in and commitment to making this a model organization. This opportunity is a perfect fit for me, and I’m eager to get started.”
Pierce is the 13th head coach in Atlanta Hawks history. He replaces Budenholzer, who had great success and made the playoff in every season with Atlanta aside from this past season. Pierce inherits a very young, raw team that showed glimpses of potential throughout a trying 24-58 season.
