Danny Ainge: Doc Rivers will return as Celtics coach

Doc Rivers has three years remaining on a five-year extension. (Steve Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Doc Rivers gave Celtics fans reason for pause after saying he would ponder his future in the weeks after the team's loss to the Knicks in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge put the issue to rest Thursday when he said the coach who led the Celtics to the 2007-08 NBA title and 2009-10 Finals would return for the 2013-14 season, according to the Boston Globe.

Rivers has three seasons remaining on a contract extension signed two years ago.

Rivers was absent from the NBA Draft Combine due to a strained hamstring suffered while playing tennis last Sunday, but Ainge said Rivers will continue to be a big part of the team's future.

From the Globe:

"Yeah (he'll be back), Doc and I are talking about our team next year," Ainge said. "(No suspense) from my perspective. We've got a great coach. We've got a coach everybody would love to have and he's got three years left on his contract and I think Doc likes Boston, too.Coaches get tired, though. It's a hard job. "You guys are the only one (who made it an issue)."