The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly hired longtime European coach David Blatt as their new head coach.
According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Blatt and the team agreed to a deal on Friday.
Blatt had just resigned as the head coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv last week. He spent 33 years as a player and coach in Europe after playing collegiately at Princeton.
The 55-year-old Massachusetts native guided Maccabi Tel Aviv to this year's Euroleague championship. He also led Russia to a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Blatt was one of numerous candidates interviewed by the Cavaliers to replace the fired Mike Brown. Brown, who previously served as the Cavaliers' head coach for five seasons from 2005-10, went just 33-49 in his return to the organization. He was fired last month on the same day that David Griffin took over as the team's general manager.
The Plain Dealer said other finalists for the position included Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue and former Phoenix Suns head coach Alvin Gentry.
[SportsNetwork.com]
