Ex-Rockets coach Kevin McHale offered job with Celtics after firing
Former Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale was offered a job with the Boston Celtics in the wake of his Wednesday firing, reports the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett.
“I’ve always tried to get Kevin to come work with me and work with my big guys,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. “I told Kevin that today. We’ve got a spot for him. I know we could figure something out for him in some capacity, but I think he’s just in a wait and see mode.”
McHale, 57, was fired by the Rockets after a 4–7 start to the season. Before beginning his coaching career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005, McHale spent 13 seasons as a player with the Celtics, with whom he won three NBA titles and was a seven-time All Star.
• GOLLIVER: Rockets’ firing of McHale justified
“He appreciated me reaching out to him, but I think he’s just going to lay low,” Ainge said. “He’s probably got bigger and better things to do—or more relaxing things to do.
“He’ll have some opportunities in TV, and maybe when the dust settles I can get him out to teach the slippery eel to Kelly [Olynyk] and Sully [Jared Sullinger] and Amir [Johnson].”
McHale, who had been at the helm in Houston since 2011, led the Rockets to the Western Conference finals last season. He was given a three-year, $12 million extension last year.
