Brooklyn Nets announce Lionel Hollins as new head coach

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Updated: July 2, 2014

The Brooklyn Nets have reached an agreement in principle with Lionel Hollins to become the team’s new head coach.

Hollins agreed in principle to a deal that is reportedly worth $18 million over four years.

The Nets moved swiftly in targeting and locking up Hollins quickly in the aftermath of the Jason Kidd exudos to Milwaukee.

This allows the Nets to show free agents that they are stable again and have put a veteran coach in place to win now.

Hollins to The Commercial Appeal –

“I’m excited to be back as a head coach and with the Nets,” Hollins told The Commercial Appeal. “The whole year off I thought about being with an organization with resources and one that would use those resources to be the best. What better place to be than New York? And Brooklyn has definitely put its stamp on the city.

“I’m thankful to (Nets owner) Mikhail Prokhorov and (general manager) Billy King. I’m excited about trying to build a championship team in Brooklyn. I know God played a big part in this whether anybody wants to believe it or not.”

“I’m excited to be back in the NBA,” Hollins said. “The year off obviously was not by my choice. But it was a good year. I got a chance to spend a lot of time with my family. I got my mind refreshed and re-energized. You don’t know how stressful these jobs are until you’re out. But I couldn’t be any happier and I’d love to be in Brooklyn until I decide I can no longer coach.”

Brooklyn Nets Press Release:

The Brooklyn Nets have reached an agreement in principle with Lionel Hollins to serve as the team’s new head coach, General Manager Billy King announced. Hollins will become the 19th head coach in the franchise’s NBA history.

“We are very excited to welcome Lionel as the new head coach of the Brooklyn Nets,” said King. “He is a proven winner who will provide the franchise with stability and leadership going forward.”

“I want to thank the Nets ownership and Billy for this opportunity,” said Hollins. “It has been a long process to get back into the league, and I believe that Billy and I will have a very successful working relationship. Brooklyn has firmly established itself as a franchise that is committed to winning, and I eagerly look forward to becoming part of that culture and building on the success of the past two playoff appearances.”

A veteran of over 20 years of NBA coaching experience, Hollins most recently served as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2012-13, where he guided the team to a franchise record 56 wins and reached the Western Conference Finals. Hollins took the helm in Memphis midway through the 2008-09 season and led the Grizzlies to consecutive postseason appearances in his final three campaigns as coach. In his four-plus season stint as head coach, Hollins compiled a record of 196-155 (.558).

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