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Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire has accepted a new role midway through the NBA season. He’s informed the team that he will be leaving after being hired at Georgia Tech.
Stoudamire’s last game with Boston will come on Monday when the Celtics take on the Rockets in Houston. The Yellow Jackets will formally introduce their new leader in a press conference on Tuesday.
Stoudamire has been an assistant with the Celts since 2001, helping lead the organization to the NBA Finals last year. Previously, he spent time as head coach at the University of the Pacific in California.
With Pacific, he won WCC Coach of the Year honors in 2020.
News of the recent hire is making its way around social media, with fans posting their immediate reactions. Many are surprised to see him leave an NBA championship contender for the college ranks.
Cringe that he is leaving a possible ring for all the hard work he has put in for…. Georgia Tech. I could understand if maybe he went to school there but 😂
— Mike Speer (@realmikespeer) March 13, 2023
Especially considering that he’s leaving midseason while the Celtics hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
Leaving mid year is crazy
— grant williams hate account ☘️ (@xMax2x) March 13, 2023
While many are stunned by the announcement, most seem to be happy for the assistant.
Congrats coach ☘️
— 🦅 (@deehndrx4) March 13, 2023
Prior to his coaching career, Damon Stoudamire was superstar performer at Arizona. He buoyed that impressive college tenure into a first-round draft selection where he quickly became the Rookie of the Year with the Toronto Raptors.
He’ll now look to get the Yellow Jackets back on track following back-to-back losing campaigns.