The Boston Celtics announced Thursday that head coach Ime Udoka will be suspended for the entire 2022-23 season due to a “violation of team policy.” Udoka’s suspension is effective immediately, and the Celtics will make a decision on his future beyond this season at a later date.
Assistant coach Joe Mazura will reportedly serve as interim coach ESPN. The Celtics’ press release announcing Udoka’s suspension did not contain any information on who would take over the team.
Udoka released a personal statement following the Boston announcement:
“I want to apologise to our players, fans, the entire Celtic organization and my family for letting them down. I’m sorry to have put the team in this predicament and I accept the team’s decision. With the respect of the staff, I will have no further comment.”
Udoka was suspended due to improper relationship with team staff, athlete’s shams charania reported Wednesday.Udoka reportedly considering resignation Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated. However, he has Decided not to resignCharania said the Celtics first became aware of the relationship in July and it was deemed consensual by both parties. However, sources later revealed that the woman had accused Udoka of making unwelcome comments about her, prompting an investigation into their relationship.
Boston hired Udoka last June after Udoka’s predecessor, Brad Stevens, took over as team president. The Celtics started 23-24 under Udoka, but they have won 28 of their past 35 games for the remainder of the regular season. They finished with the best defense in the NBA and reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. Boston ended up losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games.
Before joining the Celtics, Udoka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach, seven seasons with Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs and then Brett Brown with the Philadelphia 76ers. One year with Steve Nash of the Brooklyn Nets.
Marzura, an assistant coach under Udoka and Stevens, was hired by then-president Danny Ainge in 2019. Earlier this offseason, he interviewed for the Utah Jazz’s open head coaching position and was eventually hired by former Celtics assistant Will Hardy. After that, Boston promoted Marzura to the bench. Boston Globe.
Mazuela began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Fairmont State University in the 2013-14 season. He left three years later to join the Celtics’ G League affiliate, then known as the Maine Red Claws, for one year. He returned to Fairmont State University, where he coached for two years, leading the team to a 43-17 record and first-round exit in the 2019 NCAA Division II.