Celtics Give Coach Brad Stevens and Team President Danny Ainge Contract Extensions

Celtics news release…

BOSTON, MA – The Boston Celtics announced today that they have extended the contracts of President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge and Head Coach Brad Stevens. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

“Danny and Brad represent exactly what the Boston Celtics stand for: excellence on and off the court,” said Wyc Grousbeck, Celtics Co-Owner and Managing Partner. “With their long-term deals in place, we are continuing to build towards competing for Banner 18. Our ownership group thanks them for their hard work and their re-commitment to the Celtics.”

Ainge just completed his 13th season as Celtics President of Basketball Operations. The Celtics have posted a record of 565-484 (.539) during his tenure, making 10 trips to the post-season, three Conference Finals appearances and two trips to the NBA Finals, including winning the NBA Championship in 2008. Fellow NBA executives voted Ainge the Executive of the Year for the 2007-08 season.

“I am grateful to continue to work in an environment where I’m surrounded by so many people that are an integral part of our success,” said Ainge. “We have had great stability in this organization since the ownership group bought the Celtics. We know our strengths and weaknesses and as a group we work well together. Wyc, Irv, Steve, Rich, Brad and I have a common goal in pursuing Banner 18 and I’m looking forward to this next chapter in Boston Celtics history.”

Stevens completed his third season as Head Coach of the Boston Celtics in 2015-16, guiding the team to a 48-34 record and clinching the team’s second consecutive playoff berth. Stevens is a two-time NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month winner, most recently for games played in February 2016, where he led the Celtics to the best record in the Eastern Conference (9-3) and a 6-0 mark at the TD Garden.

He became just the third Celtic Head Coach to win the award more than once, joining K.C. Jones and Glenn “Doc” Rivers. Stevens was introduced as the franchise’s 17th head coach on July 3, 2013 after a storied career as the head coach of Butler University. In his tenure at Butler, he led the Bulldogs to six trips to NCAA Division I post-season tournament play, including two consecutive National Championship Games (2010 and 2011). He is the youngest coach to lead his team to the Final Four twice.