NBA’s 2022 Coach of the Year Monty Williams is returning to coaching but not in the pro ranks.
Williams, who was fired by 2023-2024 NBA season’s worst team Detroit Pistons, has signed on as the new coach of the boys basketball of San Antonio-based TMI Episcopal high school. His sons Elijah and Micah are both enrolled in the school.
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“Coach Williams brings extensive coaching experience, including his most recent roles in the NBA as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns,” the school announced in an Instagram post.
“He and his wife, Lisa, recently moved to San Antonio and are TMI parents to Elijah, class of ’26 and Micah, class of ’29. We are thrilled to welcome coach Williams to this position and look forward to the future of our basketball program under his leadership.”
Williams was among the best coaches in the NBA this decade. Aside from his 2022 NBA COTY honor, he was also awarded the NBCA Coach of the Year twice in 2021 and 2022.
He took the Phoenix Suns to the NBA finals in 2021 and lost to the Milwaukee Bucks. He was hired by the rebuilding Detroit Pistons at the start of last season. The 2023-2024 Pistons are regarded as among the worst in league history after recording the longest losing streak ever at 28 games.
Monty Williams new team not a demotion
Williams was rumored as a target for the Los Angeles Lakers and this is why fans were surprised by Williams’ new gig, with some even saying that it is a demotion. That might not be the case based on his initial plans before the Detroit gig. Williams wants to spend more time for his family and he got it by coaching a high school team.
The 53-year-old coach initially wanted to sit out the 2023-2024 season to be with his wife Lisa who was battling breast cancer at that time. The Pistons was able to lure him after offering a $65 million, five-year deal, which made him the fourth highest-paid coach last season.
Lisa is now cancer-free.
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