The Cavaliers have picked a head coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports that the team has reached a deal with Michigan’s John Beilein.
Michigan’s John Beilein has agreed to a five-year deal to become coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2019
The two sides have agreed to a five-year contract, per Wojnarowski.
It’s a surprising conclusion to a lengthy head coaching search which saw the Cavs focused primarily on NBA assistants. The club reportedly interviewed nearly a dozen other candidates, most of whom are currently members of NBA staffs, including Ettore Messina (Spurs), David Vanterpool (Trail Blazers), Alex Jensen (Jazz) and many others.
Instead of going with one of those options though, Cleveland will dip into the college ranks for Beilein, who informed Michigan’s administration on Monday morning of his decision to make the leap to the NBA, according to Wojnarowski.
Talks escalated over the weekend, with a deal reached on Sunday, league sources tell ESPN. Beilein informed his administration on Monday morning of his decision to make leap to NBA, and is telling his players now. https://t.co/qH749G3c3d
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 13, 2019
Woj adds that discussions between Beilein and the Cavs escalated over the weekend before they reached an agreement on Sunday.
Beilein, a veteran NCAA coach who had stops at a number of other schools — including West Virginia, Richmond and Canisius, before arriving at Michigan — has a career college record of 754-425 (.640). With the Wolverines, that mark is 278-150 (.650). Although he didn’t win an NCAA championship at Michigan, he led the team to appearances in the title game in 2013 and 2018.
Beilein interviewed last spring for the Pistons’ head coaching job and also talked to the Magic, but ultimately decided to stick with the Wolverines. It appears his interest in the NBA was legit though, and now he’ll get the opportunity to reunite with Cavaliers assistant general manager Mike Gansey. As Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports observes, Gansey played under Beilein at West Virginia from 2004-06.
By: Like Adams
