Steve Kerr hired by Golden State Warriors as head coach

According to two people familiar with the situation, Steve Kerr has been appointed head coach of the Golden State Warriors, USA TODAY Sports has learned.

According to one of the people, Kerr, who has never held a head coaching position, will receive a $25 million contract over five years. Although the team made a statement late on Wednesday, the individuals asked to remain anonymous because they were not permitted to talk in public.

A strong contender for the New York Knicks position was Kerr, the five-time champion player and former general manager of the Phoenix Suns. Rather, he takes the place of Mark Jackson, a former TV analyst who was recently fired as a coach.

The Warriors are fresh off their first postseason trip in consecutive years since 1992. With one year remaining on his contract, Jackson was let go due to    f an argument with Joe Lacob, the owner.

Jackson left behind a level of talent that made Kerr’s decision easier. Although power forward David Lee was an All-Star two years ago, point guard Stephen Curry recently received his first All-Star selection. In terms of volume, Curry and shooting guard Klay Thompson led the NBA in three-point shooting the previous season, and as a player, Kerr was a prolific scorer.

This month, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Warriors in a seven-game first-round series, despite the absence of their defensive-minded starting center, Andrew Bogut. With Kerr making a swift transition and their roster being basically intact, they could be strong competitors in the Western Conference next season.

Playing for the Chicago Bulls under current Knicks President Phil Jackson and the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich will undoubtedly aid Kerr in adjusting to coaching. From 2007 to 2010, he oversaw the Suns’ front office as well.

Kerr joins a select group of coaches—most notably, Doc Rivers of the Orlando Magic, Jason Kidd of the Brooklyn Nets, and Jackson—who had no prior NBA coaching experience before being appointed head coach.

The hiring of Kerr was initially reported by NBA.com.