Rating the Atlanta Hawks Coaching Staff for 2020-21

After two tumultuous years in Atlanta, Lloyd Pierce and the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff can’t wait for the 2020-21 season to get underway. The Hawks haven’t played a game in nine months and head into the year with a completely revamped roster.

For more on who will be roaming the sidelines at State Farm Arena, let’s get acquainted with the Hawks coaches.

Five years as an assistant at Santa Clara paved the way for Lloyd Pierce to begin his NBA journey. It took 12 years and working for four organizations to finally get a shot at a head coaching gig, but Atlanta gave him a shot in 2018.

Since then, Travis Schlenk has slowly but surely reshaped the franchise and allowed Lloyd room to grow. Thanks to a litany of transactions for the betterment of this team, the Hawks roster in 2021 is significantly improved from the previous two versions Pierce was coaching.

Now stockpiled with talent at every position, Lloyd’s leash won’t be long. Entering his third year at the helm, Atlanta’s front office holds the option for the fourth year in Pierce’s deal. Without noticeable strides and at least making the playoffs, this marks his final opportunity to prove his worth.

The Atlanta Hawks coaching staff is aided by five assistant coaches. One of which is a new hire heading into the upcoming campaign.

While the splashy additions to the Hawks roster have received a ton of attention, don’t overlook how valuable bringing Nate McMillan into the locker room can be.  

Coach Pierce was ecstatic to learn that Nate had agreed to come on board.

McMillan consistently preaches sound defense – exactly what Atlanta desperately needs.

Marlon Garnett and Lloyd Pierce were reunited in 2018 when they both were hired in Atlanta.

The two played college ball together at Santa Clara during the same time that Steve Nash was running the show for the Broncos. Garnett has been an NBA assistant since 2015 having previously coached in San Antonio and Phoenix.

Known for his role specializing in player development, Matt Hill is a vital asset for a team comprised of several guys who are 25 and under.

Hill’s NBA schooling began in 2012 as a video analyst for the Orlando Magic.

Starting out as a scout for the Houston Rockets in 1999, Melvin Hunt took over as the interim coach for the Denver Nuggets (2015) when Brian Shaw was fired.

Among his various NBA coaching destinations, Hunt spent six years helping guide LeBron James in Cleveland (2005-2010).

After bouncing around between Ohio State and multiple NBA teams,  Chris Jent joined the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff in 2017.

He’s the lone Hawks assistant who was here before Lloyd Pierce arrived.

The Atlanta Hawks coaching staff is staring down at a silver platter. Everything is set up for this organization to succeed. Trae Young leads a roster that, on paper, looks like it could be one of the top four teams in the East.

Now it’s up to Lloyd Pierce and his colleagues to go out and execute their game plan.