PHOENIX — The Suns announced Friday the team has agreed to terms with Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Monty Williams to become the Suns’ newest coach.
The Suns fired first year head coach Igor Kokoskov two weeks ago after a 19-63 season, the worst in the Western Conference.
Williams will be the Suns’ 20th head coach in franchise history. The 47-year-old played in the NBA from 1994-2003. He began coaching two years later in 2005 when he was hired by the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant.
In 2010, the New Orleans Pelican hired Williams as their head coach. He coached the Pelicans for five season, making the playoffs, but losing in the first round, in his first and last seasons. The team finished with losing records from the 2011-12 season through the 2013-14 season.
In the 2015-16 season, he served as the associate head coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In 2016, he became the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the San Antonio Spurs before returning to coaching as an assistant with the 76ers this season. The Sixers are currently in the second round of the NBA Playoffs.
In 2016, Williams' wife, Ingrid was killed in a head-on car accident in Oklahoma City. He delivered a powerful eulogy at her funeral:
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant told reporters Friday that Williams was a great hire for Phoenix and someone who can take the team to the "next level."
