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It’s been three years since the Cleveland Cavaliers made NBA history in June, but the team has once again made history with the hiring of Lindsay Gottlieb as assistant coach.
Gottlieb coached the California-Berkley women’s team to two Final Four appearances as well as seven NCAA Tournament appearances. She will reportedly sign a four-year deal with the Cavs and play a prominent role on the staff. The hiring is the first time a women’s collegiate head coach has been hired by an NBA team.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
In a landmark appointment for the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers are hiring University of California-Berkeley women’s head coach Lindsay Gottlieb to be an assistant coach on John Beilein’s staff, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2019
This is obviously a big step forward for the NBA in being more inclusive and adding the perspectives of people that traditionally haven’t been hired as coaches.
Per Woj. Gottlieb took the Cavs’ job last night. Cavs GM Koby Altman, per Woj, was the person in the front office interested in pursuing a female assistant coach and brought to the idea to new coach John Beilein. From there, Beilein became determined to recruit Gottlieb to the Cavs.
It will be interesting to see what Beilein, Gottlieb, and J.B. Bickerstaff will be able to bring to this young Cavs roster. As the summer progresses we will likely learn more about how the coaching responsibilities will be delegated and what philosophies each will bring to the table.