The Memphis Grizzlies have promoted assistant coach Dave Joerger to head coach after both sides reached a new contract agreement on Monday, according to ESPN. Joerger has served as a member of Memphis' coaching staff since 2007 and will replace his former colleague Lionel Hollins.
Hollins led the Grizzlies to their most successful playoff run in franchise history before suffering a Western Conference Finals sweep by the San Antonio Spurs. Hollins had a 196-155 record as Memphis' head coach since taking over during the 2008-09 season.
When the Grizzlies front office decided to part ways with Hollins, Joerger became the early favorite to fill the coaching vacancy. Before officially deciding on the 39-year-old Joerger, Memphis interviewed former Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry and Chicago Bulls assistant Ed Pinckney, while contemplating on the idea of contacting current NBA Coach of the Year George Karl.
Joerger has received a great deal of credit for the Grizzlies' defensive turnaround. Before he taking over the defensive scheme in 2010, the Grizzlies ranked 25th in defensive efficiency. During the past three seasons, Memphis has seen a steady improvement, ranking ninth during the 2010-11 season, seventh in 2011-12 and second last season.
Joerger has previous head coaching experience in the International Basketball Association, the Continental Basketball Association and the D-Leage. During that span, Joerger won five championships in seven years before agreeing to join the Grizzlies as an assistant. With a 53-26 regular season record, Joerger will take over one of the top NBA teams needing to fill a coaching vacancy this offseason.
Memphis has gone from proverbial loser to playoff mainstay during the past five years. Despite a then-questionable trade of star player Rudy Gay early in the season, the Grizzlies finished fifth in the Western Conference before upsetting the Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Playoffs.
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