Inspiration
Check out the coaching resume of Joe Mazzulla.
2011–2013 Glenville State (D-II, assistant)
2013–2016 Fairmont State (D-II, assistant)
2016–2017 Maine Red Claws (G League, assistant)
2017–2019 Fairmont State (D-II, head coach) 2019-2022 Boston Celtics (NBA, assistant)
2022–2023 Boston Celtics (NBA, interim head coach) 2023–present Boston Celtics (NBA, head coach - 2024 NBA Champions)
Suffice it to say, this is not the typical path for an NBA championship winning head coach. It's also safe to say that Joe Mazzulla is not your typical coach. Widely known for his frank and unflinching responses to reporters' questions (e.g.
the royal family,
perspective), Mazzulla is candid about the importance of his
faith and his
father. His humility and perspective are evident in all of his interactions. Listen to him for more than a minute, and you'll start to hear the same recurring words - faith, competitive mindset, growth, learning, resilience, and handling the
uncomfortable.
Mazzulla recognizes just how fine the margins of victory are at the elite level. To that end, he looks for parallels in other sports, all of which revolve around his principle of read fast, play slow. He also seeks to learn from the coaches of those other sports. He's built relationships with Manchester City's Pep Guardiola (soccer), Red Sox manager Alex Cora (baseball), Bruins coach Jim Montgomery (hockey) and Patriots coach Jerod Mayo (football). His approach has created a framework that recognizes his players' abilities and allows them to express themselves. Another example of his coaching savvy is using analytics to inform his approach without taking away individual decision-making. The video below provides a masterclass of how Mazzulla seeks to exploit the margins that are key to victory.
The core of the Celtics returns next season. Coupled with Joe Mazzulla's commitment to the little things and growth, and it's possible that the Celtics will be even better next year.