In what can be described as a "Huh?" move, the Cavs have lured former University of Michigan coach away from Ann Arbor to be their next coach.
After taking a day to digest the news - I really like this hire. I think everyone is hung up on the "How could they hire him - he has ZERO NBA experience coaching" platform. I counter with two very positive arguments to counteract that statement.
First - everywhere John has coached, he has always been a head coach. Never an assistant. And his teams have been highly successful. In his forty years of coaching - his teams have had winning records in 35 of those seasons. (88%). At his most recent employer, the University of Michigan, his team captured 2 Big Ten titles and had 4 NCAA Final Four runs over a 12 year run.
Secondly - his calling card has been as a teacher of basketball skills. His team here in Cleveland will be approximately the same age block as the Wolverines. Young, impressionable, moldable - the team can be built in his image.
As John assembles his coaching staff, i am sure it would be wise to include some NBA "graybeards" on the staff. Even John will need help with the nuances between the NBA game and the college one.
But I sure like the direction this team is headed in.
He’s a teacher. This is a young team, and will probably get even younger. I like the move
The first integral part of his staff is in place - J.B. Bickerstaff as associate head coach
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2837049-cavaliers-rumors-ex-grizzlies-hc-jb-bickerstaff-hired-as-associate-head-coach