Former Stanford men’s basketball coach Mike Montgomery, a resident of Menlo Park, has been replaced as head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors by former Warriors’ coach Don Nelson.
Montgomery parted ways with the Warriors August 29 following a 68-96 record in two seasons with Golden State.
Montgomery posted back-to-back 34-48 records after being lured away from Stanford by Golden State vice president Chris Mullin two summers ago.
“Mike is a terrific basketball coach who has enjoyed a great deal of success throughout his career,” Mullin said in a statement. “You would be challenged to find a better person with more character.”
Nelson, 66, is the second-winningest coach in NBA history and compiled a 277-260 record during his first go-around with Golden State.
The move to Golden State brings Nelson together again with Mullin and general manager Rod Higgins, two of his former players. It’s also a costly reunion for the Warriors, who had to buy out Montgomery, who had $5 million in salary due for the remainder of his four-year contract.
— Keith Peters, Palo Alto Weekly
