Atlanta hiring Lloyd Pierce as Hawks' next head coach
ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks are giving Lloyd Pierce his first head coaching job in the NBA, choosing a man who has been an assistant with Philadelphia and Memphis to rebuild the franchise.
The Hawks announced Friday they had agreed to terms on a deal with Pierce.
General manager Travis Schlenk says the Hawks wanted a teacher to develop their young core and feel Pierce checks every box.
Pierce, 42, spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach in Philadelphia where the 76ers just reached the Eastern Conference semifinals after finishing third in the conference with a 52-30 record. Pierce also spent two years as assistant coach with Memphis Grizzlies, including 2013 when they reached the 2013 Western Conference finals.
He replaces Mike Budenholzer who left last month after the Hawks went 24-58 this season.
The Hawks will introduce Pierce at a news conference Monday.