David Fizdale to accept coaching job with Memphis Grizzlies

Miami Heat assistant coach David Fizdale has reportedly agreed to a four-year deal to become the next head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Entering Thursday, there were still two head coaching vacancies in the NBA, as both the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies were looking for their next leader on the sidelines.

With the day barely half over, one of those spots seems to have been filled.

Yahoo! Sports NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that Memphis has agreed to a deal with David Fizdale, who has spent the last eight seasons as an assistant coach with the Miami Heat:

Fizdale was hired by head coach Erik Spoelstra when he took over as head coach before the 2008-09 season. Together, they were a part of a four-year run where the Heat went to the NBA Finals each season from 2011 to 2014 (winning back to back titles) while the team had their “Big Three” of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

It will be the first head coaching job at any level for Fizdale, who spent five additional seasons as a NBA assistant with the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks.

Fizdale will replace Dave Joerger, who was fired by the Grizzlies after three seasons with the team, making the playoffs each season and finishing his time with Memphis with a record of 147-99. Joerger was hired by the Sacramento Kings.

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