Monty Williams has a standing job offer from the Spurs, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.com. The position hasn’t been fully defined, but Williams, currently serving as an assistant with Team USA, is expected to take the offer, according to Stein.
Sources tell Stein that San Antonio is willing to be flexible. Williams could be an assistant coach, take on a player development role, fill a front office opening or accept some combination of those positions.
Williams was an assistant with the Thunder last season, but took a leave of absence in February when his wife, Ingrid, was killed in a car crash. Before joining Oklahoma City’s staff, he spent five seasons as head coach in New Orleans, compiling a 173-221 record.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has urged Williams to define his role for next year however he feels most comfortable. Williams’ first coaching job was as an intern under Popovich in 2004/05.
Stein reports that Williams has gotten similar offers from other organizations, including the Thunder, and that he “absolutely” wants to become an NBA head coach again. San Antonio might be the most convenient option for next season because Williams’ in-laws live there and have been helping to care for his five children.
“I can’t wait to get back and start coaching,” Williams said in an interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm. “I wouldn’t even think that if I didn’t know, one, my wife would want me to. My kids talk about it all the time. And there have been some things that have happened in my life lately that have allowed me to get that back.”
Wow! I didn’t know this story. Props to Pop for doing this.
Pops eventual replacement?