A couple of championship rings are headed to the Hawks basketball operations staff.
The Hawks have made several hires to their athletic performance staff, including Keke Lyles as executive director, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Lyles (whose first name is pronounced kay-kay) spent the past two seasons with the Warriors, who won the NBA Championship in June. The 31-year old also worked as the strength and conditioning coach for the Timberwolves in 2011-12 and as assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Pacers in 2010-11. The Northeastern University graduate also worked with the men’s and women’s basketball programs at the school and as an intern with the Celtics.
The Hawks have also hired Michael Roncarati as director of rehabilitation. Roncarati also spent the past two seasons with the Warriors as strength and conditioning coach. He is a graduate of Northeastern University.
In addition, the Hawks have hired Art Horne as head trainer. Horne most recently served as the director of sports performance at Northeastern University.
The Hawks will also hire a strength and conditioning coach.
The team is replacing its athletic performance staff after head trainer Wally Blase and director of player performace Pete Radulovic did not have their contracts renewed this summer. In addition, strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watkinson left for an assistant coach position with the Jazz.
