Joe Mazzulla is in his fourth season as the Celtics' head coach and signed an extension earlier this year.
While Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla endured criticism early in his tenure, the fourth-year coach has gained respect across the league. Mazzulla is also one of the highest-paid head coaches in the NBA, according to a recent report from Sportico.
Mazzulla is tied for fourth in the league, along with Pacers coach Rick Carlisle and Rockets coach Ime Udoka, at a reported average annual salary of $11 million. That mark only trails the Warriors’ Steve Kerr ($17.5 million), the Heat’s Erik Spoelstra ($15 million) and the Clippers’ Ty Lue ($15 million) as part of Sportico’s report.
The Celtics announced back in August they signed Mazzulla to a multi-year extension to keep him in Boston, though terms were not announced. NBA head-coaching salaries aren’t often public information compared to the college ranks, where those public institutions make those numbers available.
“This is truly a blessing,” Mazzulla said in a statement when the extension was announced. “I would not be here without my faith, my wife, and my children. We are thankful for the partnership with our ownership groups, Brad’s mentorship, and the support of our staff. Most importantly, I am grateful for the players I have been able to coach the past three seasons. I look forward to competing for the Celtics and the city of Boston.”
Mazzulla, 37, in his fourth season leading the Celtics. He was thrust into the role following Udoka’s suspension-turned-dismissal just days prior to the start of the 2022-23 season. But Mazzulla has steadied the ship since then. He led the team to the 2024 NBA championship and a 182-64 record in his first three years.
The Celtics are currently 15-9 on the season, winning 10 of their last 12 games. The C’s are doing this despite missing Jayson Tatum. Mazzulla has tweaked his schemes in hopes they can make up the margins, and it’s worked thus far. He’s considered one of the bright young NBA minds and has exceeded expectations with this year’s roster so far.
“We are very excited that Joe has agreed to extend with the Celtics,” C’s president Brad Stevens said of the extension. “He understands the job and has a passion for the Celtics that is only rivaled by our most die-hard fans. He’s worked hard and accomplished amazing things in his first three years as a head coach – including averaging over 60 wins per season and winning the 2024 NBA Championship. Joe is a gifted leader who brings a consistent commitment to learning, improving, and maximizing each day we get to compete for the Boston Celtics.”
More Celtics content
Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Category: General Sports
