Clippers coach Doc Rivers named president of basketball operations

Doc Rivers led the Clippers to the semifinals this postseason after a regular season in which the team finished 57-25. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was named the team's president of basketball operations, according to the AP.

Rivers, 52, was formerly the team's senior vice president of basketball operations in addition to the head coach position he was given last year. The move is the same restructuring style recently employed by the Detroit Pistons when Stan Van Gundy became their new president of basketball operations and head coach in May.

In the report on Monday, Rivers said he's excited in his newest capacity to turn the franchise not only into a winning team but a "championship organization as well."

"Our goals are not only to become a championship team, but a championship organization as well. I feel with the new structure of the Basketball Operations Department, we have taken a positive step in that direction."

In a corresponding realignment move, longtime executive and assistant coach Dave Wohl will become the team's new general manager replacing Gary Sacks.

The Clippers are in the midst of a sale to new owner Steve Ballmer -- a Microsoft executive -- who purchased the team for $2 billion in May. The NBA is finalizing the sale in order to complete the transfer of ownership from the embattled Donald Sterling, who was recorded on tape this spring making disparaging remarks about African-Americans. Sterling, 80, was subsequently fined $2 million and banned for life from the league for those comments, actions the longtime owner is currently fighting.

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