The Golden State Warriors announced today that Don Nelson has relinquished his head coaching duties and that Assistant Coach Keith Smart has been named his successor.
Smart, 46, will become the 23rd head coach in franchise history and the 18th since the team moved to the West Coast prior to the 1962-63 season.
?We feel that Keith Smart is ready for this challenge as we embark on a new season,? said General Manager Larry Riley. ?He has a wealth of experience as a player and coach in this game and has been fortunate to be around some of the best minds in the business, including Don Nelson at the NBA level and Bobby Knight in college. He?s an outstanding communicator, has a vast knowledge of the game and I?m confident that he is the right person for the job. Additionally, he has previous head coaching experience in the NBA, including several games during Nellie?s absence last season, and in the CBA. In regard to Nellie, we simply felt it was the right time to make a change. He?s been a terrific coach for over three decades and has left a lasting legacy in this league as the winningest coach in the history of the NBA.?