Quin Snyder is returning to the NBA to coach Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks immediately.
The Atlanta Hawks are bringing back a familiar face to lead them in Quin Snyder, as he will be the next head coach of the Eastern Conference franchise.
While Atlanta won its two games with Joe Prunty as the interim, Snyder was quickly tabbed by the Hawks brass to be Nate McMillan’s long-term replacement. Atlanta swiftly pivoted off McMillan during the All-Star break. Although the Hawks remain a playoff-caliber team, they have stagnated over the last two years after reaching the conference finals when McMillan was still their interim.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting it will be a five-year deal for Snyder. He is expected to be on the sidelines for the Hawks’ next game on Tuesday night vs. the division-rival Washington Wizards at home.
Snyder was most recently the Utah Jazz’s head coach but was Mike Budenholzer’s top assistant on his first Atlanta staff nearly a decade ago.
Atlanta Hawks hire Quin Snyder to get the most out of Trae Young and company
This move could not have come at a better time. The Hawks have been experiencing a bit of a leadership void after former general manager Travis Schlenk’s resignation and McMillan’s termination. Although this hire was spearheaded by new general manager Landry Fields and owner Tony Ressler, keep in mind that assistant general manager Kyle Korver played for him.
Atlanta has been looking for a head coach who could be what Budenholzer was for them previously. McMillan massively overachieved for being an interim. He helped bridged the gap between the Lloyd Pierce disaster into the new era we are about to embark on with Snyder. The goal with hiring Snyder is to provide the stabilizing presence this team needs to get over the top.
Young may have been unfairly labeled a coach killer, but Pierce was not a good fit and McMillan’s shelf life hit an expiration date sometime late last year. Snyder had been instrumental in the Jazz’s recent run of success, but that thing needed a reboot after a few premature postseason exits. His resignation last offseason was a sign that he could return to Atlanta to coach his former team.
Overall, this is a move to get excited about if you are a Hawks fan, or just want to see the Atlanta basketball club finally play up to its lofty potential. This team is not yet a serious championship contender, but there is still more tread left on the tire in this group’s competitive life cycle. If Snyder can provide accountability to help this team play more cohesively, watch out for Atlanta.
Give the Hawks credit for acting swiftly to make sure they got the top head coach on the market.
