Johnston, Rhode Island, native Joe Mazzulla is now the head coach of the Boston Celtics.
As the interim coach he led Boston to the best record in the NBA at the All-Star break, 42-17.
“One of the things that's pretty obvious and evident about Joe is he's a really good coach and he's also just an outstanding leader,” Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens said during a conference call with the media Thursday evening. “I think he's done a great job, right from the get-go of, galvanizing a locker room around a mission.
Mazzulla replaces former head coach Ime Udoka, who was suspended last year over unspecified violations of team rules.
(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Photo: Getty Images