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Joe Mazzulla

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Joe Mazzulla
Mazzulla with the Boston Celtics in 2022
Boston Celtics
PositionHead coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1988-06-30) June 30, 1988 (age 36)
Johnston, Rhode Island, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolBishop Hendricken
(Warwick, Rhode Island)
CollegeWest Virginia (2006–2011)
NBA draft2011: undrafted
Coaching career2011–present
Career history
As coach:
2011–2013Glenville State (assistant)
2013–2016Fairmont State (assistant)
2016–2017Maine Red Claws (assistant)
2017–2019Fairmont State
2019–2022Boston Celtics (assistant)
2022–2023Boston Celtics (interim head coach)
2023–presentBoston Celtics
Career highlights and awards

Joseph Mazzulla (born June 30, 1988) is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for West Virginia University. Joe Mazzulla has the highest winning percentage of any coach in NBA history with more than 150 games coached.

High school career

Mazzulla playing in the Division l high school state championship game in 2005

Mazzulla attended Bishop Hendricken High School in Rhode Island, where he made the all-state first team.[1] Mazzulla won three state titles at Bishop Hendricken, with his third as a senior on a last-second shot.[2]

College career

As a freshman at West Virginia, Mazzulla helped the team win the 2007 National Invitation Tournament under coach John Beilein.[1]

In the 2008 NCAA tournament, Mazzulla posted 13 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists in a second-round upset of Duke. He was forced to redshirt the 2008–09 season due to a shoulder injury against Ole Miss, as his growth plate never fused with his shoulder.[3] Mazzulla was unsure if he would ever play again, but practiced for two hours a day and underwent surgery to make a comeback.[4]

In April 2009, Mazzulla was arrested for domestic battery at a bar in Morgantown, West Virginia, and was suspended by coach Bob Huggins.[2]

As a redshirt junior, Mazzulla was named a captain and helped West Virginia reach the 2010 Final Four, where the Mountaineers lost to eventual champion Duke. In the game prior, he scored a then-career-high 17 points in the Elite Eight upset of Kentucky.[5][6]

As a senior, Mazzulla averaged 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game.[7]

In his collegiate career, Mazzulla recorded 700 points and 340 assists.[8]

Coaching career

College coaching career

Shortly after graduating from college, Mazzulla was offered a coaching job at Nova Southeastern but turned it down to pursue professional opportunities.[9] He did not find any suitable opportunities overseas, and in September 2011, Mazzulla joined Glenville State as an assistant.[10]

Mazzulla was hired as an assistant at Fairmont State under Jerrod Calhoun in 2013.[1] During the 2016–17 season, Mazzulla served as an assistant for the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League. He was named head coach of Fairmont State in March 2017.[7] In his second season, Mazzulla led the team to a 22–9 record and appearance in the 2019 NCAA Division II tournament, where they lost in the first round to Mercyhurst, 63–60, in overtime.[11]

Boston Celtics

Assistant coach

In June 2019, Mazzulla was hired as an assistant coach of the Boston Celtics.[8] In 2022, Mazzulla was interviewed for the Utah Jazz's head coaching vacancy, but the position ultimately went to fellow Celtics assistant coach Will Hardy.[12][13]

Head coach

On September 22, 2022, just days before the beginning of training camp, Mazzulla was named interim head coach for the Celtics after Ime Udoka was suspended for the whole 2022–23 NBA season.[14][15] On December 1, 2022, Mazzulla was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for October and November, following the Celtics beginning the season with a league-best 18–4 record.[16] On January 30, 2023, Mazzulla was named the head coach for Team Giannis for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.[17]

On February 16, 2023, the Celtics officially named Mazzulla head coach and signed him to a contract extension.[18][19] In April, Mazzulla was named one of three finalists for NBA Head Coach of the Year.[20] The Celtics entered the playoffs as the second seed in the Eastern Conference with a 57–25 record but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games to the #8-seed Miami Heat.

Mazzulla was retained as head coach for the 2023–24 season and received the endorsement of team president Brad Stevens, who called him "a terrific leader" and "accountable."[21] With a league-best 64–18 record, the Celtics not only had their first 60+ win season since 2009, but they also took the No. 1 overall seed and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs for the first time since their 2008 season and their last championship.

Personal life

Mazzulla was born in Johnston, Rhode Island. He is the son of basketball coach Dan Mazzulla, who played college basketball at Bryant and professionally for five years in Chile.[2] In 2007, Dan was inducted into the Bryant Hall of Fame.[22] He died of cancer in April 2020.[23]

Mazzulla's younger brother, Justin, played basketball at George Washington University before transferring to the University of Vermont.[24][25]

Mazzulla is a devout Catholic, claiming his identity comes from his "faith" and "purpose."[26][27] Mazzulla and his wife, Camai, have a son named Emmanuel. Mazzulla also has a stepson named Michael.[28]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Fairmont State (Mountain East Conference) (2017–2019)
2017–18 Fairmont State 21–8 17–5
2018–19 Fairmont State 22–9 18–4 NCAA Division II First Round
Fairmont State: 43–17 (.717) 35–9 (.795)
Total: 43–17 (.717)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

NBA

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
‡ NBA record
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Boston 2022–23 82 57 25 .695 1st in Atlantic 20 11 9 .550 Lost in Conference finals
Boston 2023–24 82 64 18 .780 1st in Atlantic - - - TBD
Career 164 121 43 .738‡   20 11 9 .550  

References

  1. ^ a b c Furfari, Mickey (April 28, 2015). "Mazzulla enjoys coaching after great hoops career at WVU". The Register-Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Thamel, Pete (March 26, 2010). "West Virginia Rides a Guard in Full Revival". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  3. ^ Thamel, Pete (March 27, 2010). "West Virginia Rides a Guard in Full Revival". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  4. ^ "West Virginia's Mazzulla making progress". www.statesboroherald.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  5. ^ Fenton, Jim (July 4, 2019). "New England native Joe Mazzulla comes full circle with new role as Celtics assistant coach". Telegram & Gazette. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Mountaineers stop Kentucky, advance to first Final Four since 1959". ESPN. March 28, 2010. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Former WVU guard Joe Mazzulla named new Fairmont State men's basketball coach". Charleston Gazette-Mail. March 28, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Jackson, Justin (June 24, 2019). "Fairmont State coach Joe Mazzulla, ex-WVU standout, hired by Celtics". WV Metro News. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  9. ^ Danesi, Paul (July 12, 2011). "Basketball in his blood, Mazzulla looks for next turn in career". Warwick Beacon. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  10. ^ Leung, Diamond (September 26, 2011). "Joe Mazzulla lands assistant coaching job". ESPN. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  11. ^ Jackson, Justin (June 24, 2019). "Fairmont State coach Joe Mazzulla, ex-WVU standout, hired by Celtics". WV MetroNews. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  12. ^ "Mazzulla explains how failed interview with Jazz made him a better coach". NBC Sports Boston. January 6, 2024. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. ^ King, Jay (March 19, 2023). "Danny Ainge has faith in Joe Mazzulla, thinks Celtics coach could be 'legendary'". The Athletic. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  14. ^ Himmselbach, Adam (September 22, 2022). "Celtics to suspend coach Ime Udoka for a year, will make Joe Mazzulla interim coach". The Boston Globe. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  15. ^ "Boston Celtics Suspend Head Coach Ime Udoka". NBA.com. September 22, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Monty Williams, Joe Mazzulla named NBA Coaches of the Month". NBA.com. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
  17. ^ "Celtics' Joe Mazzulla named coach of Team Giannis in 2023 All-Star Game". NBA.com. January 30, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Snow, Taylor (February 16, 2023). "Mazzulla 'Grateful' After Being Named Full-Time Head Coach". NBA.com. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  19. ^ "Boston Celtics officially name Joe Mazzulla head coach, remove interim tag". CBS Boston. February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
  20. ^ Rafferty, Scott (April 14, 2023). "NBA award finalists 2023: Full list of candidates for MVP, Defensive Player of the Year and more". sportingnews.com. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  21. ^ "Celtics to keep Mazzulla, 'want Jaylen to be here'". ESPN.com. June 1, 2023. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  22. ^ Hurd, Beth (February 22, 2007). "Mazzulla inducted to Hall of Fame". johnstonsunrise.net. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  23. ^ Koch, Bill (April 23, 2020). "R.I. loses 2 legendary hoops coaches". Providence Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  24. ^ Abrami, Alex (November 25, 2019). "George Washington transfer Justin Mazzulla commits to UVM basketball". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  25. ^ Detweiler, Eric (November 3, 2017). "Mazzulla Brothers to Clash in GW Exhibtion [sic] Game Saturday". Atlantic 10 Conference. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  26. ^ McNamara, Kevin (October 6, 2022). "Joe Who? Everyone in Rhode Island knows Johnston Joe Mazzulla". Kevin McSports.
  27. ^ Dowd, Cooper (May 5, 2023). "Boston Celtics Head Coach Joe Mazzulla: 'My Identity Comes From My Faith and My Purpose'". Movieguide | The Family Guide to Movies & Entertainment. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  28. ^ Taylor, Sean (July 3, 2019). "Joe Mazzulla Writes Touching Letter to West Virginia". Mountaineer Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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