Atlanta Hawks

Hawks interview Celtics assistant Larranaga for open head coach job

Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga works with Marcus Smart before Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs April 24, 2018, against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden in Boston.
Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga works with Marcus Smart before Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs April 24, 2018, against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden in Boston.
May 3, 2018

The Hawks interviewed Celtics assistant coach Jay Larranaga for their vacant head coach position, GM Travis Schlenk confirmed Thursday.

Larranaga has been a Celtics assistant for six seasons after he was head coach of the Erie franchise in the NBA Developmental League (now G League). Before coaching in the professional ranks Larranaga was an assistant at Cornell University. Larranaga played at Bowling Green State University for his father, Jim, who now is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Miami.

ESPN first reported Larranaga’s meeting with the Hawks. The report said Larranaga also has interviewed with the Knicks and Hornets about their vacant head coach positions.

Larranaga is the sixth known candidate to interview with the Hawks after the team and coach Mike Budenholzer parted ways last week. The others: Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, Hawks assistant Darvin Ham, Warriors assistant Jarron Collins, Blazers assistant Nate Tibbetts and former Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale.

About the Author

Michael Cunningham has covered Atlanta sports for the AJC since 2010.

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