Less than 24 hours since the offer was placed on the table, the Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to a four-year deal with Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale as their new head coach. The Grizzlies made the offer Wednesday night, after rumors were speculating that Fizdale was the leading candidate following a strong interview.
The former assistant coach had a second interview, and landed the job Thursday afternoon. Memphis has been looking for a replacement for David Joerger, who was fired earlier this month. The fourth year of the contract for Fizdale is a team option.
The Grizzlies had also looked at former Pacers coach Frank Vogel, who took the Orlando Magic job. It was then cut down to Fizdale, as well as Spurs assistant James Borrego. The Houston Rockets are now reportedly chasing after Borrego as their head coach.
Fizdale has been an assistant for 13 years in the NBA, with stints in Golden State, Atlanta, and Miami. He has been involved in player development with the Heat the last few years under head coach Erik Spoelstra.
The only head coaching experience he has is coaching the Heat's summer league team in 2010 and 2012.
The long-time assistant is heading to a good place for his first NBA head coaching gig, as the Grizzlies have the third-longest playoff streak at six. After dealing with injury after injury this past season, they used a record 28 players en route to a 42-40 season. Memphis would then fall to the Spurs in the first round, leading to the firing of Joerger.
The bright side for the Grizzlies is the fact that they are expected to get most of their stars back from injury next season. That includes the likes of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. With healthy stars under new leadership, it could be yet another playoff run for the Grizzlies next year.
The former assistant coach had a second interview, and landed the job Thursday afternoon. Memphis has been looking for a replacement for David Joerger, who was fired earlier this month. The fourth year of the contract for Fizdale is a team option.
The Grizzlies had also looked at former Pacers coach Frank Vogel, who took the Orlando Magic job. It was then cut down to Fizdale, as well as Spurs assistant James Borrego. The Houston Rockets are now reportedly chasing after Borrego as their head coach.
Fizdale has been an assistant for 13 years in the NBA, with stints in Golden State, Atlanta, and Miami. He has been involved in player development with the Heat the last few years under head coach Erik Spoelstra.
The only head coaching experience he has is coaching the Heat's summer league team in 2010 and 2012.
The long-time assistant is heading to a good place for his first NBA head coaching gig, as the Grizzlies have the third-longest playoff streak at six. After dealing with injury after injury this past season, they used a record 28 players en route to a 42-40 season. Memphis would then fall to the Spurs in the first round, leading to the firing of Joerger.
The bright side for the Grizzlies is the fact that they are expected to get most of their stars back from injury next season. That includes the likes of Marc Gasol and Mike Conley. With healthy stars under new leadership, it could be yet another playoff run for the Grizzlies next year.
