According to a report last night from ESPN.com’s Kevin Arnovitz, the Grizzlies have reached an agreement in principle to name longtime assistant Dave Joerger the team’s new head coach, bringing a presumptive end to a process that began when the team declined to offer incumbent head coach a new contract a few weeks ago.
The 39-year-old Joerger has spent six seasons on the Grizzlies bench, joining the team as part of Marc Iavaroni’s staff and surviving the transition to Lionel Hollins a year-and-a-half later, where Joerger was later elevated to lead assisstant.
Long considered the frontrunner for the job, Joerger won five titles in three different leagues over seven minor league seasons as a young head coach. He will now get the chance to test those skills at the highest level.
As of yesterday, a source with the team had speculated that the Grizzlies would be unlikely to make a coaching announcement prior to Thursday’s NBA draft, and the team has not officially confirmed Joerger’s hire. But with the news leaking late Monday night, one expects an announcement will now come sooner rather than later.
