Clippers' Head Coach Doc Rivers Agrees To Contract Extension Through 2019 Season
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles Clippers Wednesday announced head coach Doc Rivers has agreed to a contract that will keep him with the team through the end of the 2019 season.
The team posted the news to Twitter at 9 a.m.
Special terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"This is an important day for this organization," Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said. "I am excited to work with Doc for a long time as we build a championship culture that will deliver results both on and off the court."
Rivers, who took over as head coach in June 2013, lead the Clippers to the best record in franchise history (57-25, .695) and a second straight Pacific Division Title.
"Not only is Doc one of the best coaches and executives in the game, but he continually embodies the hard core, committed and resilient character and winning culture that the Clippers represent. It was one of my top priorities to ensure that he was firmly in place as the long-term leader of this team," Ballmer said.
Rivers joined Ballmer at the Staples Center Aug. 18 when the new owner was welcomed by fans after officially taking possession of the Clippers from former owner Donald Sterling a week before for a record sale price of $2 billion.
"Steve has shown a clear and determined desire to make the Clippers one of the most elite, first-class and championship organizations in all of professional sports," Rivers said. "We know we have work to do to get there, but I am motivated by the challenge and thankful for the opportunity to stand together with Steve as we continue to move toward our goal of winning an NBA title."
Rivers, who played point guard for the Clippers in 1991-1992, became President of Basketball Operations on June 16, 2014. This season will be his 16th as a head coach, and he is one of just three active coaches to win at least 600 games. He won NBA Coach of the Year in 1999-2000 after his first year with the Orlando Magic. He began coaching for the Boston Celtics in 2004 and led the team to a 2008 NBA Championship before heading to Los Angeles in 2013.
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