Nothing is set in stone regarding a potential coaching change for the Golden State Warriors. Whether Steve Kerr will stay or go is yet to be determined. For now, he is still the coach.
It may remain that way, it may not.
If this does mark the end of Kerr’s tenure, it would be the first time the Warriors were in search of a head coach since May 2014, when they let go of Mark Jackson three days after losing to the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games in the first round of the playoffs. Kerr was hired eight days after Jackson was fired.
Should Kerr and the Warriors decide to not continue into a 13th season together, Golden State’s coaching carousel begins … and there are a number of ideal candidates.
Here are coaches the Warriors could look at if Kerr isn’t brought back:
Potential Warriors coaching candidates
There are a number of coaches whose names will be thrown in the hat if Kerr doesn’t return. Here’s who could appear in the conversation:
Terry Stotts
Stotts is currently the Warriors’ lead assistant coach. He is familiar with the guys, having coached in Golden State since 2024. He finished a Jan. 5 game as head coach against the Clippers after Kerr was ejected. Stotts was last a head coach with the Portland Trail Blazers from 2012 to 2021. They were a perennial playoff team, and made a Western Conference finals appearance in 2019, where they lost to Kerr’s Warriors.
Jerry Stackhouse
Stackhouse, another Warriors assistant coach since 2024, would seemingly be a candidate to succeed Kerr as Warriors coach. Stackhouse hasn’t been a head coach in the NBA, but was the head coach at Vanderbilt prior to joining Golden State, from 2019 to 2024. Stackhouse was a two-time All-Star in 18 NBA seasons. He can relate to every player, from stars to role players.
Golden State Warriors assistant coach Jerry Stackhouse (center) gestures during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Chase Center.
Mike Brown
We’re not going to fill this list completely with former Warriors assistant coaches. And Brown is currently the head coach of the New York Knicks, who are in a playoff series with the Atlanta Hawks. The Warriors probably aren’t thinking about him right now, and Brown definitely isn’t thinking of the Warriors. Plus, Brown was hired just last summer on a four-year, $40 million deal. So, you can probably cross Brown’s name off the list … unless he’s shockingly fired.
Doc Rivers
Newly elected Hall of Fame coach Doc Rivers recently told Andscape’s Marc J. Spears it was his decision to step down from his head coaching position with the Milwaukee Bucks and that he’s probably coached his last game. However, the championship-winning, veteran coach’s name is always in conversations. If the conversation shifted towards him coaching future Hall of Famers like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, he’d have to consider, right?
Tiago Splitter
Keep an eye on what Splitter has done with Portland. He was named interim head coach following head coach Chauncey Billups’ arrest as part of a federal investigation into an allegedly rigged high-stakes poker scheme. Splitter coached the Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and they’re in a battle with the No. 2-seed San Antonio Spurs, with the series tied at 1. There’s been some interesting reporting about Splitter and new Blazers owner Tom Dundon, though.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that Splitter is “trying to be a pro” even as Dundon is reportedly shopping for head coaches to potentially replace Splitter. Dundon supposedly offered Splitter the Blazers head coaching position, but reportedly lowballed Splitter. Maybe Joe Lacob and Mike Dunleavy can persuade Splitter to join Golden State if Portland doesn’t work out.
Todd Golden
The Warriors will plan to pursue University of Florida head coach Todd Golden if Kerr does not return, according to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor.
Golden coached at the University of San Francisco for three seasons before leaving for Florida and reportedly has a relationship with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and his family.
Andre Iguodala
Iguodala is a former Warrior who won four championships with the franchise and was named the 2015 Finals MVP. He’s been an All-Star and played a veteran role mentoring young guys, especially during the Warriors’ 2022 championship run, which birthed an iconic meme during the NBA Finals in a teaching moment with Andrew Wiggins.
Although it would be fun and would make a good story, realistically Iguodala isn’t high on the list … or maybe even on the list, according to The SF Standard’s Tim Kawakami, who called Iguodala his “outside-the-envelope candidate.”
Mark Jackson
Nostalgia alone is enough to keep Jackson’s name circulating among Warriors coaching rumors. He helped pioneer the Warriors’ run over a decade ago. Now that their run appears to be over, a reunion may seem fitting, but probably won’t happen.
Billy Donovan
Donovan is on the market. He’s a veteran coach who’s worked with stars before and has a history of developing young talent, having won two national championships at Florida in 2006 and 2007. The Chicago Bulls announced on April 21 that Donovan would be stepping down as Bulls coach. What’s next? Could it be the Bay Area?
Micah Nori
Nori is currently a Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach. He has been adorned for how he connects with superstars and his bravado during in-game interviews. In Minnesota, he’s connected with Anthony Edwards. In his previous stop, Denver, he was tight with Nikola Jokic. With his ability to connect with others, a first-time head coaching position could be in his future.
Chris Quinn
Quinn is the longest tenured Miami Heat assistant coach. He’s been in the role since 2015, where he’s helped the Heat form one of the best player development systems. It seems natural Quinn would wait to succeed Erik Spoelstra, but what if that opportunity doesn’t come and one does with the Warriors? Why wouldn’t Quinn go for his first top job?
Sean Sweeney
Sweeney has developed a repertoire of having success in scouting and developing talent with the San Antonio Spurs. He also brings Finals experience, having been an assistant with the Dallas Mavericks during their run in 2024. A leap from assistant coach to head coach would be daunting for Sweeney, but who wouldn’t welcome the challenge?
Johnnie Bryant
Bryant is an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was a candidate for the Cavs coaching job before Kenny Atkinson was hired. He was a candidate for the Phoenix Suns before they opted for Jordan Ott. Bryant has been high on many lists, so if the Warriors are serious about not bringing Kerr back, expect Bryant’s name to surface as a candidate.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Steve Kerr, Warriors coaching rumors, potential candidates
Read the full article here