The Detroit Pistons have announced Monty Williams as their new head coach.
Williams, who will be officially introduced at a news conference in Detroit next week, has already initiated the transition and has begun scheduling player meetings and personnel development.
“I couldn’t be prouder to have Monty joining us at this important time to lead us into the next decade of our future,” said Pistons owner Tom Joris. “He embodies all the qualities we want in a leader for the Pistons franchise, and most importantly, he is a teacher and mentor to our players. He will have an impact on every aspect of our franchise on and off the field.”
“Having spent some time with Monty, it’s clear he’s found a unique balance between delivering victory at the highest level while nurturing a culture of growth, development and inspiration,” said Joris. “I am so excited. This is a huge victory for us.”
Regarding salary and contract information, here is a file Detroit Free Press:
The Pistons have not announced the terms of Williams’ contract, but the Free Press has learned from a source on the team that he is the richest coach in NBA history, with a guaranteed $78.5 million over six seasons. But there is more.
There are team options for seasons seven and eight, and added incentives could bring the total value of the contract to more than $100 million. The average base salary for the first six years is $12 million a year ($72 million), and there’s guaranteed additional money tied in with Season 7, whether he returns or not, making the guaranteed total $78.5 million. If the Pistons pick up his seventh-year option, his contract would be over $90 million.
Williams agreed to the terms after a stormy series of discussions with Gores, Pistons general manager Troy Weaver and other Pistons executives that began over Memorial Day weekend and culminated Thursday in a signed agreement.
“A week ago, I wasn’t sure what the future held,” Williams said. But, after speaking with Tom and Troy, I was excited to hear about their vision for the Pistons moving forward. They had a well thought out plan and I very much appreciated the focus they put on the personal side of this business. They showed such great care to me and my family throughout this process.
“They’ve also shown a commitment to success and to doing things the right way,” he said. “As we discussed the team and expressed our collective goals, I knew this would be a great opportunity for me to help a talented young team and build a strong culture here in Detroit. This is clearly a special place with a deep history in basketball, and my family and I look forward to the opportunity to be a part of this. City and organization.