Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens shut down the idea of him returning to college before the question was even asked in an interview with SBNation.com over the weekend:
Before the question had even been formulated, Brad Stevens was shaking his head. No, no, no. He's not looking to go back to college. This is where he wants to be, coaching the Boston Celtics even as they go through a transformative time in their history and even as Indiana University message boards light up at the thought of bringing a favored son back to the Hoosier state.
"I've committed to being here," Stevens told me before Thursday's practice at the team's facility. "I've already left a situation once and that was the hardest thing I've ever had to choose to do. This is something that as long as they want me to be here, this is what I want to be doing and I'm going to give it everything I've got. I know it's all specific to the rumor mills and the discussion of one spot. I think they've got a good coach who's done a helluva job. He doesn't deserve that speculation.
"I'm the head coach of the Boston Celtics," Stevens continued. "This is the job. This is where I am. This is what I want to do really well and I'm committed to being as good as I can every single day for the Celtics."
via Sunday Shootaround: Brad Stevens and the Celtics are in it for the long haul - SBNation.com.
Stevens of course made hay as the coach of the Butler Bulldogs, before jumping to the Celtics last season. He's in a rebuilding situation, but anyone who watches the Celtics notices that they play with better direction and ability than what their relative level of talent would suggest.
The Celtics will benefit from Stevens' development track, from the culture he's instilling and the fundamentals he'll stress. He may not be the guy long-term to win a title with; often there are developmental coaches and "win titles with veterans" coaches. But he's got the entire "program" in a great place, and the full confidence of not only the front office, but the ownership, the fans and other GMs around the league.
There's no reason to go back to the amateurs. He's doing a fine job with the pros.
