The Miami Heat revealed numerous front office changes in a press release today, revealing a clearer image as to how the Heat will battle adversity in this coming season.
Earlier this month it was announced that Miami Heat assistant coaches Ron Rothstein and Bob McAdoo would be stepping down from their roles and thus would be moving on to other ventures within the organization. In the case of Rothstein, he is set to join the Sun Sports broadcasting team after retiring from coaching, while McAdoo is set to become a member of Miami's scouting team. Nevertheless, it was obvious that the Heat organization would be replacing the two coaches, and word as to who will be joining Erik Spoelstra on the bench and in the locker rooms has finally been revealed.
In a press release issued by the Heat, the team has announced that Keith Smart and Chris Quinn will join the assistant coaching staff along with promotions for David Fizdale (Assistant Head Coach), Juwan Howard (Assistant Coach), and Dan Craig (Assistant Coach/Director of Player Development). Other front office hirees include Brandon Gilliam as Assistant Trainer/Director of Rehabilitation, Eric Foran as Assistant Strength & Conditioning coach, Wes Brown as Assistant Trainer, and finally Octavio De La Grana who will serve as a player development coach as well as Director of Minor League Operations. The most noteworthy of that long list, are of course Smart and Quinn.
Smart is a welcome addition to the coaching staff. After an exceptional college career where he was a standout on the 1986-1987 NCAA championship Indiana Hoosiers team, he had a minuscule stint in the NBA where he played for the San Antonio Spurs for two games, but ended up going overseas for the majority of his career. Since his playing days, Smart has bounced around coaching positions in the NBA. He's been head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, and most recently the Sacramento Kings. Smart brings a coaching record of 93 wins and 170 losses, as well as over 25 years of basketball experience and will definitely aid in decision-making down the line.
Heat fans should remember Quinn, who played three and half seasons with the Miami Heat for both Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra. Quinn played in the NBA for six years on numerous teams including Miami, New Jersey, Cleveland, as well as San Antonio. During his playing days, Quinn worked his way to an NBA contract playing for Miami in the 2006 Orlando Summer League. It was in 2007 however, that Quinn began to see floor time after Gary Payton retired, and Dwyane Wade fell victim to injury. After being waived by the Cavaliers in 2013, Quinn served as a director of player development at Northwestern University. With his NBA experience, Quinn has gained invaluable experience that will hopefully aid Miami in returning to postseason glory.
Gilliam, Brown, and Foran are of course world class trainers as well and definitely standouts on the list of new staff members. Gilliam brings much experience to the Heat after owning and operating his own private practice for eight years and specializing as a physical trainer for entertainers and athletes. He will be in charge of overseeing player rehabilitation. Brown is no stranger to the South Florida heat having spent the last seven years as the University of Miami's Associate Athletic Trainer. He will be set to monitor the day-to-day health of players during the season, postseason, and offseason. Foran has spent the last two seasons with the Heat as a strength and conditioning intern, and his familiarity with the team will provide an advantage in structuring their training regiments.
While Heat Nation has not yet seen these coaches perform their duties in a live setting, it appears as if Miami is gearing up to make a long run into the postseason. Each coach brings something unique to the table and will aid the team in performing to the best of their ability come the start of the regular season. It's obvious that the Heat are preparing to add to their championship legacy, and adding experienced coaches is just one step in pursuing that ultimate goal.