Detroit Pistons Hire Maurice Cheeks As Head Coach

February 24, 2012; Orlando FL, USA; Team Chuck coach Maurice Cheeks talks to an official during the second half of the BBVA rising stars challenge at the Amway Center in Orlando. Team Chuck defeated Team Shaq 146-133. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

In the last couple of days Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach Maurice Cheeks emerged as the favorite for the Detroit Pistons head coaching job, and it will indeed be Cheeks who will lead the young group of Pistons in the 2013-14 NBA season.

According to Marc Stein of ESPN, Cheeks has now formally agreed on a three-year contract with Detroit:

"Cheeks, an assistant in Oklahoma City for the past four seasons, on Monday formally agreed to take over as coach of the Detroit Pistons as the replacement for the ousted Lawrence Frank, according to sources close to the process."

During their coaching search, the Pistons asked the legendary Phil Jackson for advice in their coaching search, but decided to go in a different direction. Jackson highly recommended Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw, who worked under Phil for the Los Angeles Lakers.

After a little layoff from head coaching duties, Cheeks will now be an NBA head coach for the third time in his career.

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