Late Thursday night, just one day after being officially named head coach, J.B. Bickerstaff has added Chad Forcier onto his coaching staff.
Forcier, out of Seattle Pacific University has been successful since day one in the NBA. It is rare that coaches have a very clean record, but Forcier is the perfect assistant coach. Spending time with Detroit for two seasons as an assistant, then the Indiana Pacers for four seasons, and the San Antonio Spurs for eight seasons that included a NBA title in 2014. His resume looks like a potiental head coaching candidate, but it seems that he is looking to gain more knowledge, and will be joining Bickerstaff in Memphis.
The Grizzlies are finalizing deal to hire Orlando’s Chad Forcier as a lead assistant on head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s staff, league sources say. Forcier has also had assistant stints in Detroit, Indiana and San Antonio.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 4, 2018
What do we know about Forcier?
He knows the NBA, and he knows how to develop younger guys, just like Bickerstaff. With Bckerstaff taking the head coaching role, someone had to fill the spot as special assistant, and Forcier will fill that spot. Also, anytime a coach has experience under Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, I like their chances. Forcier has eight full seasons, and will be great grooming guys like Dillon Brooks, Kobi Simmons and Ivan Rabb for this system.
What will he bring?
I would like to think that he would bring a championship culture. Being in San Antonio, and spending the last two seasons in Orlando under Frank Vogel had to of been rough. Look for Forcier bring a mindset that goes beyond the head coach of being more aggressive then their opponent.
Is J.B.’s staff complete?
Although it is not clear who will be returning and who won’t be returning from last years staff, it seems like Keith Smart will not retain the special assistant role he played last season. To me, it look as if Bickerstaff will bring in his own coaching staff.