Photo: Andrew Mullin ~ 760 WJR
DETROIT, June 13, 2023 ~ The Detroit Pistons officially introduced their new coach to the public Monday.
The 37th Pistons Head Coach Monty Williams, along with Owner Tom Gores and General Manager Troy Weaver, gathered at the Pistons Performance Center to answer questions from the press. Williams revealed that he nearly did not take the job due to a health situation with his wife.
Williams replaces former coach Dwane Casey, who stepped down in early April to take a front-office role. Williams was signed to a six-year, $78.5 million deal with the team.
“I want to have success here to the point where people think I am from Detroit,” Williams said.
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June 13, 2023 ~ The Detroit Pistons hire Monty Williams as their new head coach. Detroit News Sports Editor Rod Beards joins Mitch to talk about the new coach and the future of the Pistons.
(CONTINUED) Williams, whose hire was announced by the Pistons June 2, has an NBA career dating back to 1994 when he was a player. He transitioned to coaching after 2003. He has been the head coach for the New Orleans Hornets (2010-2015) and the Phoenix Suns (2019-2023).
While coaching the Suns, Williams guided the team to the NBA Finals in the 2020-21 season, though the team did not win. He was named NBA coach of the year in 2022. Following a play-off loss earlier this year, Williams was fired from the Suns.
Williams said his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer during the 2023 playoffs. When Weaver began making a push to sign Monty to a coaching deal following his stint in Phoenix, Williams had to initially decline to focus on his wife and family.
Williams’ wife subsequently received good news on her diagnosis, and after some reengaged positive meetings with the team, a deal was signed.
“That was a huge part of my decision making,” Williams said. “The patience that Troy and Mr. Gores had with us as we navigated that told me a lot. My wife found out that she had breast cancer during the playoffs and the reason I bring it up is to not talk about my family, but to make it more of an emphasis that women need early detection and testing. We had genetic testing done, and then scan after scan after scan. We found it early, and that may have saved my wife’s life.”
The new coach has already scheduled player meetings and is working on the Pistons’ team rebuilding efforts.
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