CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially hired Kenny Atkinson for the position of head coach, according to a team press release.
He had been the assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors for the past three seasons. He is now the Cavs 24th-ever head coach.
The news was announced by Koby Altman, Cavaliers president of basketball operations, who said they had gone through a “thorough and extensive search” for the new coach.
“Kenny brings a wealth of experience, a proven track record of player development, and a relentless work ethic that aligns with the vision we have for this franchise,” Altman said in the release. “His innovative approach will instill a style of play and brand of basketball that will give us a chance for sustainable success and ultimately compete for Championships. His familiarity coaching alongside some of the NBA’s best elevates this partnership and we are excited that Kenny will guide our team and help us achieve our goals both on and off the court.”
Atkinson had also spent time with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, the latter of which he ranks third for number of games coached and fourth for wins. The release notes he’s also worked out of Atlanta, New York and Houston.
He is originally from Northport, New York, and has a variety of coaching experiences overseas. He also played professionally from 1990 to 2014 in France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain as well as for the CBA and USBL.
He had played at the University of Richmond, named 1987 CAA Rookie of the Year. He was inducted into the university’s Hall of Fame in 2010.
“I am thrilled and honored to be named head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers,” Atkinson said in the release. “This is an incredible opportunity to lead an already talented young roster with an equally bright future. I’ve seen firsthand and had to prepare for this group as an opposing coach, and the task was not easy. I’m so excited to now be on this side of the ledger to help continue moving this team forward. I also want to thank Koby Altman and the front office for having the confidence in me and the shared vision we have for sustainable success in Cleveland.”