Long-time assistant becomes Seattle head coach

MONTREAL (Reuters) – Bob Weiss was promoted to head coach
of the Seattle SuperSonics on Monday, bringing an end to his
11-year stint as an assistant at the club.

Working under three different coaches during his tenure in
Seattle, Weiss takes over from Nate McMillian who moved to the
Portland Trail Blazers earlier this month.

It will be the fourth head coaching job for the 63-year-old
Wiess, who spent two years with the San Antonio Spurs, three in
Atlanta and one with the L.A. Clippers before moving to Seattle
as an assistant in 1994.

“I’m more excited about this job than I was my first
head-coaching opportunities,” Weiss told the SuperSonics Web
Site.

“We’ve been in Seattle 11 years now, we’ve got a deep bond
with the city.

“We are so happy for this opportunity.”

The decision received strong backing from SuperSonics
players, including all-star Ray Allen, who recently signed a
five-year $85 million deal.

“I’m happy that they like me as an individual,” said Weiss,
who spent 12 seasons in the league as a player before beginning
his coaching career in 1977.

“But I’m more happy that they had the confidence in me,
after working with me on the basketball court, to put the
confidence on me that I can carry them forward.”