http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2920083
DALLAS -- Former NBA head coach Paul Westphal was hired Thursday to be a Dallas Mavericks assistant coach.
While Westphal has been out of the NBA since being fired as Seattle's coach 15 games into the 2000-01 season, he had a 267-159 record as the coach for Phoenix (1992-95) and Seattle (1998-2000).
"We are thrilled to add Paul Westphal to our basketball family. As one of the greatest offensive coaching minds in the NBA, Paul brings a wealth of experience as a coach and as a former player," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "He is a man of strong character and integrity and is excited about joining our staff in its path to win a championship."
The Suns won at least 55 games in each of Westphal's three seasons, and he led Phoenix to the NBA Finals in his first full season in 1993 -- a feat not matched by another first-year coach until Johnson did it with the Mavericks last year.
Johnson still has one more coaching vacancy to fill on his staff. Longtime assistant Del Harris has moved into a consultant's role for the Mavericks and Sam Vincent was named Charlotte's head coach.
Westphal, who won an NBA title as a player with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and was a five-time All-Star, was Pepperdine's head coach from 2001-06.
DALLAS -- Former NBA head coach Paul Westphal was hired Thursday to be a Dallas Mavericks assistant coach.
While Westphal has been out of the NBA since being fired as Seattle's coach 15 games into the 2000-01 season, he had a 267-159 record as the coach for Phoenix (1992-95) and Seattle (1998-2000).
"We are thrilled to add Paul Westphal to our basketball family. As one of the greatest offensive coaching minds in the NBA, Paul brings a wealth of experience as a coach and as a former player," Mavs coach Avery Johnson said. "He is a man of strong character and integrity and is excited about joining our staff in its path to win a championship."
The Suns won at least 55 games in each of Westphal's three seasons, and he led Phoenix to the NBA Finals in his first full season in 1993 -- a feat not matched by another first-year coach until Johnson did it with the Mavericks last year.
Johnson still has one more coaching vacancy to fill on his staff. Longtime assistant Del Harris has moved into a consultant's role for the Mavericks and Sam Vincent was named Charlotte's head coach.
Westphal, who won an NBA title as a player with the Boston Celtics in 1974 and was a five-time All-Star, was Pepperdine's head coach from 2001-06.
