Atlanta Hawks: Larry Drew is the choice for coach
Hawks pick Drew to be next coach.
The Hawks have decided to hire Larry Drew as their next head coach, people with knowledge of the decision said today.
Drew was Atlanta’s lead assistant for six years under Mike Woodson, who was let go last month. Drew and the team are working out the details of a contract this evening and the official announcement of his hiring is expected on Saturday.
Drew, 52, emerged from a group of finalists that also included Avery Johnson, Dwane Casey and Mark Jackson. Once Johnson agreed to coach the Nets early in the week, that left Atlanta’s ownership group and GM Rick Sund to choose from among the other three candidates.
This will be Drew’s first head-coaching job after he’s been an NBA assistant for the the last 14 seasons. He worked for the Lakers, Wizards, Pistons and Nets before joining Woodson’s staff for the 2004-05 season. Drew played 714 games over 10 NBA seasons from 1980-91.
“He’s very experienced, just being around the game,” Hawks guard Jamal Crawford said. “He’s very knowledgeable. I think he is prepared for a lot of different situations.”
When Sund decided not to retain Woodson, he said the team needed “another voice” after the team lost in the second round of the playoffs the last two years. The Hawks apparently decided Drew will have a leadership style distinct from Woodson while also having the advantage of established relationships with players and familiarity with the team’s issues.
“He knows the faults of our teams,” Crawford said. “It’s not like we are a bad team. Now we can continue to build; we don’t have to start over.”
Drew inherits a team that won 53 games next season and, among its core players, has all but Joe Johnson under contract for next season. But he will face some challenges as the Hawks look to break through after getting swept in the second round of the playoffs in consecutive years.
Drew is popular among players but now his role changes from sometimes-confidant to the person in charge of their playing time and involvement in the offense. He also will have to reprimand players for their mistakes while trying to maintain relationships and team chemistry.
“Everything is going to be a first for him,” Crawford said. “But I think it will be a little bit easier transition because he knows our team. He doesn’t have to come in and learn the different personalities, what makes people tick and how to motivate them.”
When the Hawks let Woodson go, among the concerns expressed by players and management was what they considered Woodson’s differing levels of accountability. They said Woodson didn’t rebuke certain players as often as he did others, leading to some resentment in the locker room.
The Hawks also want to move away from an isolation-heavy offensive approach that was influenced by guard Joe Johnson’s playing style. Johnson is eligible to become a free agent next month, and the Hawks still want to re-sign him.
A person with knowledge of Johnson’s plans said he’s still open to returning. But the person said the new coach would have to sell Johnson on relying more on his teammates in the offense and ensure him that locker-room chemistry would improve.
MC
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552 comments Add your comment
LMAO!!!
June 11th, 2010
9:31 pm
I TOLD YOU SUND WAS STUPID!
claude
June 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
well talent wins. i know nba coach is a notch above mlb manager in importance, but i wanted a guy who could draw up a decent play when the team needed a basket. that wasn’t woody & this guy was standing next to woody the whole time. maybe they got tired of woody’s voice, but how different could his be….forget mark jackson, mark price would have seemed a better option!! i’m depressed…not even sure why. maybe i’m wrong, i don’t know how good larry drew could be, but i knew dwayne casey wasn’t bad…heck he was even ok…and that was enough for me. coaching matters more when u lack a supreme talent ie wade, kobe, lbj . hope your the guy when can make this team the 2004 pistons, larry. GOOD LUCK!! you’ll need it.
p.s. the pistons played hard.
p.p.s. larry drew was there all this time when they weren’t playing hard. i’m sad…
LMAO!!!
June 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA
ballhawg333
June 11th, 2010
9:32 pm
Is Lary Drew willing to move his azz to Atlanta from Woodland Hills, California and start paying Ga taxes? If he doesn;t move to atlanta, it shows he not TOTALLY committed to the organization.
eiht
June 11th, 2010
9:34 pm
If the Hawks wanted to go with Drew, why waste money, time, and effort in interviewing the other canidates. If you wanted Drew, should’ve just hired him a week after firing Woodson. Then we as fans could know our coaching style by now and rally behind this team leading up to the draft and free agency period.
brad
June 11th, 2010
9:34 pm
You are kidding right?
Hawks Fan
June 11th, 2010
9:36 pm
What a damn JOkE. The same BS will continue till Atlanta Spirits sell th team. Stupid a@@’s running the show. I don’t blame Drew for wanting the job but the Spirits suck big time. HAWK Fan ? will have to see, it better be good.
Clyde
June 11th, 2010
9:37 pm
Typical Atlanta Hawk decision.
Didn’t Larry Drew want to leave a few years go and Billy wouldn’t let him?
ballhawg333
June 11th, 2010
9:38 pm
What are they paying Drew to coach?
ballhawg333
June 11th, 2010
9:39 pm
Correction, how much are they paying Drew to sit on the bench?
Clyde
June 11th, 2010
9:42 pm
I don’t have nothing against Larry Drew but we needed new leadership. We needed a fresh mind and a fresh vision.
4 Jacks
June 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Way to go ASG. This is just to laughable. The ASG is just PATHETIC, I mean really. Anyone buying tickets to hawk or Thrasher games are just plain out SUCKERS…sorry, I really am…sorry that Atlanta fans are stuck with one of the WORST if not the WORST ownerships in all sports. The fans here deserve so much better. This ownership if a effing disgrace…Gearon and the others are just morons on the cheap and that is the best that can be said about them. What a complete waste of time these two teams are.
GetwhatUpayfor
June 11th, 2010
9:43 pm
How cheap can you get? The Atlanta Spirits knew this all the time…and had the fans hopes all build up. I’ll just stay home.
Clyde
June 11th, 2010
9:45 pm
I don’t think Sund wanted Larry Drew. I think he wanted Casey. This was all the Spirit Group. They wanted to get the cheapest option available.
Derek
June 11th, 2010
9:47 pm
The Hawks will continue in mediocrity. I really thought the desire was to totally change the direction that this team was headed and hire someone with a proven track record. When will the ASG let go of the purse strings and spend the money to build a quality organization. As the old saying goes” you get what you pay for”. This just seems like a cost savings move to hire someone that has never held a head coaching job in the NBA. I will be rooting for the Hawks but I will not be expecting very much. I do wish Coach Drew the best and hope that he sincerely will do things different from Coach Woodson. I suggest bringing in some quality assistants. A very strong offensive mind and a very, very strong defensive mind.
Melvin
June 11th, 2010
9:47 pm
Whoop dee damn Drew….
DavidDecatur
June 11th, 2010
9:48 pm
Most of you that complain is not even a Hawks fan yall just like to complain. Byron Scott has done nothing….Avery Johnson had all the talent money can buy did he win a title nope. Who was Phil Jackson until he started to win. Wait and see before you complain dont be a Atlanta Hawks Unlce Ruckus lets see what happens.
drmaryb
June 11th, 2010
9:48 pm
Grand-Daddy
I feel your pain! When you feel better post me up! If you need a shoulder or a hug – I’m here.
I will not be able to blog as much either, but for different reasons! I got to go pay some bills at my offices,
but these owners have worn me out too, with all the unnecessary, childish drama that they perpetrate in this city.
Too many irons in the fire for my taste. Let’s all go get some sleep and remember:
“This too shall pass”
HawksFanFromWayBack
June 11th, 2010
9:52 pm
Larry, hmmm, should have picked John Drew?
Mike is back
June 11th, 2010
9:53 pm
Ken Strick, don’t cap out me like that dawg…u killing my moniker. lol
I said I hope we are not back in two years. As I stated previously…I always liked LDrew…I wish him the best. I’m eager to hear his take on the team. It will be interesting to see how this all unfolds.
JSS
June 11th, 2010
9:55 pm
I just want to know what time Tyrone Hill is fired? 2. What time do we renounce signing rights to Collins, Morris, and West?
cdog
June 11th, 2010
10:00 pm
great hire by rick sund.now lets see can we go out and add the neccessary pieces we need to get to the next level.first, they need to resign joe johnson then go after that neccesary big man(s)no nba team ever won the title without a good big man.lets get it done drew.you’re the man now.hopefully we will get an identity.hope its up tempo and pressure on defense.thats the kind of players we have.marvin and josh would definitely excel in an up tempo style.
Atlanta Spirit Group
June 11th, 2010
10:04 pm
We are idiots and cheap and have no vision on what it takes to win a Championship and we just proved it by hiring one of our assistants.
newkid
June 11th, 2010
10:04 pm
Any reaction yet from Childress?
B&Butthead
June 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
Uhhhhhhh….Uhhhhhhhh…..THIS SUCKS!
Drew’s the man, but what’s the plan? | Atlanta Hawks: Fan Nest
June 11th, 2010
10:06 pm
[...] Well, here we are. As reported by Hawks beat writer Michael Cunningham, Larry Drew has been named head coach. [...]
OK
June 11th, 2010
10:08 pm
FML!!!!! FML!!!!!
FML!!!!!FML!!!!!FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v vFML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!!FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! vFML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! v FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! FML!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK
June 11th, 2010
10:10 pm
In al seriousness though, I saw Drew coach at a Clinic and he was very good. He’s def more intellegent than Mike Woodson but……
OK
June 11th, 2010
10:12 pm
This is almost as bad as Ronaldo, Ronaldhinio, and Roberto Carlos being held off the Brazilan National team for the 2010 World cup ugggghhhh!!!
Joe
June 11th, 2010
10:14 pm
We are so screwed. Ascending program to descending. We are so screwed.
DawgDad
June 11th, 2010
10:16 pm
I was a big fan of Larry Drew in his college days at Missouri. Wish him the best. Larry Drew, though, isn’t by himself likely to significantly improve this team. The roster needs to be fixed, and under the circumstances that isn’t going to be easy. All things being equal, say JJ comes back. Does anyone see the Hawks as a 53 win team next year? I certainly don’t.
Melvin
June 11th, 2010
10:21 pm
I find it very hard to believe that Sund two coaching hiring’s been to resign the current coach and then hired the top assistant on the coaching staff that he chose not to resign the aforementioned coach.
Ralph Coleman
June 11th, 2010
10:21 pm
If you didn’t like Mike Woodson, why would you hire his lead assistant?????? That’s probably just more of Mike Woodson. I don’t get it. I’m just saying …..
Clyde
June 11th, 2010
10:23 pm
The Hawks are going in circles
chefbtl
June 11th, 2010
10:25 pm
1st thing let childress go with his 10.8 mil cap hold.Can we please have a championship team fror once .I beleive all 50 Hawks owners dont want a championship team.Calling Mr.Blank please buy the Hawks ! We need a owner who doesnt mind spending money.
Big Ray
June 11th, 2010
10:27 pm
It’s amazing how all of us fans just know precisely what happened behind closed doors.
Larry Drew won’t be popular until he and the team win. That’s a fact, and it’s because he used to work for Woodson. Rest assured, for good or for ill….he will show that he is not the same person as Mike Woodson. Again, whether that turns out to be good or bad is a tale not yet told.
For those who are taking this personally….don’t know what to tell ya. I hope you feel better in the morning.
For those who think this is all Rick Sund’s doing (whether you like the decision or not), there are a few guys who have the option of either accepting or rejecting anything Sund does. They are called the OWNERS.
Good luck to Larry Drew. Four Hawks that every fan will be watching under Drew’s regime:
1) Jeff Teague
2) Josh Smith
3) Al Horford
4) Marvin Williams
I’d add Joe, but we still don’t know if he’s staying or going…
Congrats to Drew, assuming he gets the contract details worked out this evening. After that, the hard part begins.
chefbtl
June 11th, 2010
10:28 pm
fire Rick Sund ! You might as well have kept Woody .What free agents are going to want to come here now ? Same old franchise that traded Mr.D.Wilkins. DAMN ,DAMN,DAMN !
Wabe
June 11th, 2010
10:29 pm
Ok.
So Larry Drew.
I’m not thrilled about it, a little surprised, but I really shouldn’t be. All things considered, this move really made the most sense (notice the words *all things considered*). Sund did his due dillegence interviewing a couple of other candidates, and he and the ASG ultimately came back to Drew.
I’m willing to wait and see what Drew can do with this bunch…
Woody’s gone, but will his ways remain? I’ve heard Drew isn’t anything like Woody, but now we’ll see first-hand whether or not this is true.
darrell starks
June 11th, 2010
10:29 pm
You have 2 be kidding this is some B. S.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!
kewlCat
June 11th, 2010
10:30 pm
Everybody knows that Hawks fans are fair-weather by nature! Y’all can’t wait until YellowJacket or Dawgz football season starts. Hell, you support the lackluster Falcons more than the Hawks!! So stop all the pomp and nonsense about your new coach…half of y’all won’t even show up at a game & support your team! Signed..Carolina Katz
Clay
June 11th, 2010
10:30 pm
I wish the hawks could have singed avery johnson but i do like the choice of drew over dwayne casey and ESPECIALLY mark jackson.
darrell starks
June 11th, 2010
10:31 pm
I was going parting tonight untill some one gave me the bad news wow.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chefbtl
June 11th, 2010
10:31 pm
Trade Josh Smith ,Marvin Williams.We can get more for that 20mil.
N.D.T.K.A.
June 11th, 2010
10:33 pm
Can Drew get rid of Mike Bibby? I see in his bio. that Drew played for the Sacramento Kings, does Drew have a soft spot for Bibby or will he bench or trade Bibby since Bibby can’t run or play defense?
darrell starks
June 11th, 2010
10:33 pm
In what way is this some improvement this the same B. S. AND THE SAME SYSTEM A. S. G. SHOULD SELL THE TEAM NOW.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
Melvin
June 11th, 2010
10:41 pm
ha,ha… now we know who place the knife in Woody’s back….lol
The Truth
June 11th, 2010
10:42 pm
This is not the time to be a bear or a bull but a well-wisher if you are a “true” Hawk Fan; having said that, congratulation to Coach Drew on his new promotion. I wish you all the best. The negativity on this blog has ventured into the comic relief zone on a Friday Night. This stuff is better then the Movies
Dr. Warren
June 11th, 2010
10:42 pm
These boards sounded the same when the Falcons hired Mike Smith. No one is complaining now about him. Give this guy a shot. I’m betting JJ will be back now.
Paul Hewitt
June 11th, 2010
10:44 pm
I would have been a better choice! Jackets remain the best basketball option in Atlanta!!
darrell starks
June 11th, 2010
10:45 pm
People was starting 2 come back and support the hawks like back in the days when nique was on the team and ASG blew the the whistle like this, if the hawks don’t sign joe back and add a star player 2 the team there will be no more than 3,000 fan at the games i guarantee.
GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!