Phoenix Suns 2025-2026 Coaching Search

[Superbone]

Let's get it going, folks!

Who's it going to be? Or what kind of coach are we going for? A first time NBA head coach? Will they last longer than a year?

Put all Suns coaching search news here.

[specialsauce]

CP3 or Willie Green

[Superbone]

The head coaches of NBA championship-winning teams going back to 2010 :

2023-24: Boston Celtics - Joe Mazzulla - College player
2022-23: Denver Nuggets - Michael Malone - College player
2021-22: Golden State Warriors - Steve Kerr - NBA player
2020-21: Milwaukee Bucks - Mike Budenholzer - College player
2019-20: Los Angeles Lakers - Frank Vogel - College player
2018-19: Toronto Raptors - Nick Nurse - College player
2017-18: Golden State Warriors - Steve Kerr - NBA player
2016-17: Golden State Warriors - Steve Kerr - NBA player
2015-16: Cleveland Cavaliers - Tyronn Lue - NBA player
2014-15: Golden State Warriors - Steve Kerr - NBA player
2013-14: San Antonio Spurs - Gregg Popovich - College player
2012-13: Miami Heat - Erik Spoelstra - College player
2011-12: Miami Heat - Erik Spoelstra - College player
2010-11: Dallas Mavericks - Rick Carlisle - NBA player

10 coaches; Only 3 played NBA basketball; All played in college

Based on this relatively recent sampling, NBA playing experience isn't required. And of course, team personnel goes a long way to winning a championship.

[Superbone]

CP3 or Willie Green

My top two as of this moment. Both have ties here and are associated with our most recent biggest success.

[JJ Slim]

Yeah the more I think about it the more I want Chris Paul to be the first choice. Willie Green would be a close second.

[JJ Slim]

I had mentioned Tom Izzo in another thread because of his success and ties to Ishbia. But I also know he is getting up there in years and may not want to make such a huge change now.

[Split T]

I don’t think Chris Paul is retiring

[wpmiller42]

I think CP3 is going to play a couple more years. But I do like him as a candidate if he decides to retire.

My first choice would be Ty Lue if there was any way to pry him from the clippers. I also like Sam Cassell as a candidate. I think I would also put Mike Malone on the interview list.

[The Bobster]

Re: Chris Paul

It's okay if he doesn't retire this year, we can just hire him when we fire the coach the year that he DOES retire.

[ShelC]

They list Willie Green, Dudley, Cassell, Quinn and Royal Ivey as candidates, which pretty much covers who we've been kicking around.

[Superbone]

Re: Chris Paul

It's okay if he doesn't retire this year, we can just hire him when we fire the coach the year that he DOES retire.

Get him on the team now as a player and the defacto next head coach and hire an interim in the meantime. Kind of like Cotton/Westphal back in the day but Paul is still playing.

[Superbone]

It seems very likely that the next coach is going to be a former player. The current ones that come to mind are: Sam Cassel, Jared Dudley and Chris Quinn. Any others? Trying to think of assistants that also previously been mentioned as head coach candidates in the past.

I'm not convinced it has to be a former player. Why are we thinking that? I might have to review the last 25 championship coaches Bobster referenced. I know Pop, Vogel, and Bud are on that list right off the top of my head. None of which were good players at the NBA level.

Since the NBA/ABA merger -

Joe Mazzulla
Mike Malone
Steve Kerr
Mike Budenholzer
Frank Vogel
Nick Nurse
Tyronn Lue
Gregg Popovich
Erik Spoelstra
Rick Carlisle
Phil Jackson
Doc Rivers
Pat Riley
Rudy Tomjanovich
Chuck Daly
K.C. Jones
Billy Cunningham
Bill Fitch
Paul Westhead
Lenny Wilkens
Dick Motta
Jack Ramsay

Star players - Cunningham, Wilkens, Tomjanovich
Starter-quality players - Rivers, Lue
Role players - Kerr, Riley, Jackson, Jones, Carlisle
Did not play in NBA - Ramsay, Motta, Fitch, Westhead, Daly, Spoelstra, Popovich, Nurse, Vogel, Budenholzer, Malone, Mazzulla

Seeing this shows me NBA playing experience isn't required but also doesn't hurt.

[The Bobster]

Here's the other side of the coin. Just how attractive is this coaching job now?

[BigLewy]

Time to give Kevin Young a call and make him an offer he can't refuse?

[Superbone]

Here's the other side of the coin. Just how attractive is this coaching job now?

Still pretty attractive, I'd think. Booker and an owner willing to spend in some of the best NBA season weather in the country.

[Superbone]

Time to give Kevin Young a call and make him an offer he can't refuse?

Nah. I was never enamored with him. Maybe he was the brains behind 0.5 seconds but I'm not sure. We need more help on the defensive end than the offensive end.

[Split T]

Kevin Young is too busy turning BYU into an NCAA powerhouse…I don’t think he’s coming back to the NBA…not this year for sure

[Superbone]

Kevin Young is too busy turning BYU into an NCAA powerhouse…I don’t think he’s coming back to the NBA…not this year for sure

Actually, I don't follow college ball so if he's been a monster in the college game, I wouldn't know.

[Split T]

Kevin Young is too busy turning BYU into an NCAA powerhouse…I don’t think he’s coming back to the NBA…not this year for sure

Actually, I don't follow college ball so if he's been a monster in the college game, I wouldn't know.

Went to the sweet 16 this year and he’s got the #1(or #2 depending on the site) recruit in the nation coming this year…You’ll know him soon enough, AJ Dybantsa…likely the top pick in the 2026 draft.

[The Bobster]

Bookies.com odds for next Suns coach -

Mike Malone +350
Taylor Jenkins +450
Willie Green +550
Chris Quinn +750
James Borrego +800
Micah Nori +950
Darvin Ham +1150
Steve Nash +1400
Sam Cassell +1400
The Field +900