Damon Stoudamire to be Georgia Tech's next head coach

Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire, filling in for interim head coach Joe Mazzulla, calls to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the LA Clippers, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2022, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Former Portland Trail Blazer guard and Portland native Damon Stoudamire is leaving his current position as assistant coach with the Boston Celtics to become the next head coach at Georgia Tech.

Please welcome the 15th head coach in Georgia Tech men’s basketball history, Damon Stoudamire‼️ #TogetherWeSwarm 🐝 | https://t.co/a8zXZhuWOJ pic.twitter.com/FGdwWMKAwU

— Georgia Tech Men’s Basketball (@GTMBB) March 13, 2023

Congratulations, Coach ☘️

Thank you for all your hard work and best of luck in your next journey. pic.twitter.com/vnVi0NaFHK

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) March 13, 2023

It is a return to the collegiate ranks for Stoudamire, who went 71-77 overall in four seasons as head coach at Pacific out of the West Coast Conference from 2016-21. He went 32-19 his final two seasons at Pacific including a conference coach of the year award in 2019-20.

Stoudamire joined Ime Udoka’s coaching staff with the Celtics in 2021 and was a key assistant this season under first-year coach Joe Mazzula as Boston has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference.

Stoudamire replaces Josh Pastner as head coach of the Yellow Jackets after Pastner reached one NCAA Tournament in seven seasons. Georgia Tech hasn’t reached consecutive NCAA Tournaments since the 2003-04 seasons.