Wizards Make Bold Move, Appoint Brian Keefe as Head Coach
The Washington Wizards have officially declared Brian Keefe as the head coach of the team. Keefe joins the position as the 26th head coach in the history of the organization.
Brian Keefe’s Vision
“We are excited for Brian Keefe to become our next head coach. Brian is a proven motivator and connector of people,” said Wizards General Manager Will Dawkins. “As a leader in the organization, he will continue to grow and invest in the development of our players positively. His wealth of experience will help move our team forward as we build for long-term sustained success.”
Brian Keefe was appointed the interim head coach on January 25, 2024, and the team responded by improving its defensive rating, overall net rating, and opponents’ three-point shooting in the rest of the regular season. In his tenure, the Wizards made others’ three-point shooting a concern by allowing them only to shoot at a 34.5% success rate, the second low in the NBA. Before joining Washington in January 2010 as their lead assistant coach, Brian Keefe was appointed the interim head coach for the team’s first season in 2011.
Extensive Coaching Background
In his 16-year lengthy NBA coaching profession, he has been instrumental in the shaping and defining of many All-Stars, All-NBA, and MVP standards players; most recently the Nets Brooklyn (2021 to 2023), Oklahoma City Thunder (2019 to 2020 and 2007 to 2014), Los Angeles (2016 to 2019), and the New York Knicks (2014 to 2016). Having made a name in the player development aspect, several Wizards players received some statistical increase when practicing under Brian Keefe as the interim head coach.
He first joined the NBA in 2005 as a video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs. The team improved in the second season to qualify for the 2007 NBA finals before winning the championship.
Commitment to Growth and Development
“I am grateful to Michael [Winger] and Will for the opportunity to lead the Washington Wizards,” said Keefe. “I look forward to continuing to work with our players and helping them grow and develop. As a team, we are committed to a collaborative approach to build an environment of accountability and hard work that allows us to improve every day.”
As an assistant coach, Brian Keefe has been a part of teams that have earned playoff berths on eight occasions, including five consecutive playoff appearances (2009-2014) and a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.