NBA: Warriors assistant Gentry hired to coach Pelicans

In this Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 file photo, Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry gestures during the first half of the Suns’ NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Golden State Warriors assistant Alvin Gentry as head coach, Saturday, May 30, 2015. AP

NEW ORLEANS, United States – Alvin Gentry, an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors as they prepare for the NBA Finals, has been hired as the new coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.

The team confirmed Saturday night that Gentry, 60, will replace Monty Williams, who was fired by the Pelicans on May 12 after going 173-221 over the past five seasons with the club.

The Pelicans made the playoffs for the first time since 2011 this year, edging Oklahoma City for the last Western Conference spot in the final game of the season, but were swept by the NBA-best Warriors in the first round.

Gentry has served stints as a coach for four prior NBA clubs, including Miami, Detroit, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers. He went 335-370 over parts of 12 seasons between 1994-2013.

In his most recent bench boss opportunity, Gentry was fired by Phoenix in January of 2013 after a 13-28 start to the season.

But Warriors coach Steve Kerr hired Gentry as an associate coach last June after Gentry had spent a season in the same position with the Clippers.

Golden State, back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 40 years, will face Cleveland in the best-of-seven championship series starting Thursday in Oakland, California.