Ending two weeks of secret discussions, Chicago Bulls assistant Jim Cleamons has joined the Dallas Mavericks as head coach.
The Mavericks confirmed Thursday night that Cleamons would be introduced during a news conference today as the sixth head coach in the franchise's 16-year history, but declined further comment.The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported today that the Mavericks signed Cleamons to a four-year contract. The newspaper said Cleamons was flying to Dallas today, then would return to the Bulls for the NBA Finals against the winner of the Western Conference series between Utah and Seattle.
Jerry Krause, Bulls vice president of operations, had said no one could talk to Cleamons until the end of the playoffs, but gave Dallas permission on May 17 to interview Cleamons, provided negotiations remained secret.
"We were all aware that if word leaked, Jerry would pull the plug," Mavericks minority owner Frank Zaccanelli told the Star-Telegram. "Since this is the guy we really wanted, we had to live by that rule."
Cleamons, 47, emerged as the leading candidate from a list of interviewed finalists that included former Phoenix coach Paul Westphal, former Boston coach Chris Ford and former Mavericks player and assistant Brad Davis.
Cleamons only previous head coaching experience was at Youngstown State, where he was 12-43 in 1987-88 and 1988-89. Earlier, he was an assistant at Furman and at Ohio State, his alma mater.
Cleamons is in his sixth season as a bench coach for the Bulls. His duties included coaching the guards and professional scouting.
Zaccanelli said Cleamons was a unanimous pick among the team's three owners and director of player personnel Keith Grant.
"Jim Cleamons' discipline, his determination, his mental toughness and his attitude toward the game just set him apart from everyone else we talked to," Zaccanelli said.
Hiring someone who has experience as an NBA head coach "was never a prerequisite, at least not in my mind," Zaccanelli said.
"I think Jim Cleamons is as defensive-minded and as tough and disciplined as anyone we talked to," Zaccanelli said.