Amid an offseason of change for the Boston Celtics, we have a constant: Joe Mazzulla isn’t going anywhere.
The Celtics announced Friday they have signed their head coach to a “multi-year” contract extension. While terms weren’t disclosed, the deal keeps Mazzulla in place as Boston’s head coach for at least the next several seasons.
Mazzulla took the Celtics’ head coach job under ominous circumstances, replacing the suspended Ime Udoka as the team’s interim head coach just days before training camp in September 2022. Since then, the Rhode Island native had remarkable success behind the bench, posting a 182-64 regular season record (.740 winning percentage) over three seasons and guiding Boston to its 18th championship in 2024.
While there was some speculation about Mazzulla’s contract situation entering this offseason — NBC Sports Boston’s Michael Holley reported the Celtics may have had an upcoming “team option” on Mazzulla’s previous deal — Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens reiterated in June that the C’s “want Joe to be around here for a long time.”
Now, they’ve made that happen.
“We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics,” Stevens said in a statement Friday. “He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivaled by our most die-hard fans. He’s worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach – including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA Championship.
“Joe is a gifted leader who brings a consistent commitment to learning, improving, and maximizing each day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”
Mazzulla is about to face his toughest challenge yet to get the most out of a squad that lost Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, Luke Kornet and (likely) Al Horford and will be without injured superstar Jayson Tatum for most or all of the 2025-26 season.
But it’s clear that Stevens and the Celtics view Mazzulla as the right person for the job.
“This is truly a blessing,” Mazzulla said in a statement. “I would not be here without my faith, my wife, and my children. We are thankful for the partnership with our ownership groups, Brad’s mentorship, and the support of our staff.
“Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston.”
Derrick White joins Chris Forsberg on the Celtics Talk Podcast to discuss how Joe Mazzulla will deal with the challenge of next season
Read the full article here