Gentry with the Suns
Alvin Gentry smiles as he watches the Phoenix Suns play the Los Angeles Lakers in Phoenix, Arizona, April 7, 2012. Reuters/Darryl Webb

Win or lose in the 2015 NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors associate head coach Alvin Gentry is moving on to a new team next season after the New Orleans Pelicans named him their new head coach. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“I’m truly honored for the opportunity to lead the Pelicans as their head coach and am anxious to get started,” Gentry said in an official statement about the hiring. “However, my responsibilities with the Pelicans will begin immediately after the NBA Finals are completed. Until then, my complete focus for the next two-plus weeks will be with the Warriors and the NBA Finals." Gentry and the Warriors will begin their championship series against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday.

The 60-year-old Gentry became the ultimate choice of the Pelicans, who also reportedly interviewed veteran mentors Jeff Van Gundy and Vinny Del Negro.

Gentry replaces previous head coach Monty Williams, who was fired earlier in the offseason despite leading the Pelicans to their first playoff appearance since 2011, when the club was known as the New Orleans Hornets.

Gentry is an experienced coach in the league with various stints as head coach and assistant coach since 1980. He was the head coach for the Miami Heat in 1994, Detroit Pistons from 1998 to 2000, Los Angeles Clippers from 2001 to 2003 and Phoenix Suns from 2009 to 2013. He was the associate head coach for the Warriors the last two seasons.

With the Pelicans, Gentry will work with rising superstar Anthony Davis, who is coming off the best year of his career and considered one of the best players in the NBA. Other players still under contract with the Pelicans include Eric Gordon, Tyreke Evans, Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson.

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