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Report: Avery Johnson reaches agreement with Alabama Crimson Tide

By Jack Crosby

Dec. 1, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Avery Johnson looks on during the first half against the Miami Heat in the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Dec. 1, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Avery Johnson looks on during the first half against the Miami Heat in the first half at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Avery Johnson has reached an agreement to become the new head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide

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In some news that has developed quite rapidly over the past 24 hours, it appears now as if the Alabama Crimson Tide have found their new men’s head basketball coach, and it is indeed former NBA Coach of the Year, Avery Johnson.

Word began to spread on Saturday during the Final Four that Johnson and Alabama could forge this relationship, quite frankly leaving some people to scratch their heads. But, in the end, they have reached a verbal agreement on this Easter Sunday and contract details are being finalized as everyone speaks.


This search ends what has been quite the roller coaster of a coaching search for Alabama, who has had their eyes on quite a few candidates since they fired Anthony Grant following the season. They would have tried to make a nice run at Rick Barnes after Texas let him go after 17 seasons, but he signed on with Tennessee, who were forced to part ways after one season with Donnie Tyndall. Then, their attention turned to Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall, although all that attention ended up doing was give Marshall a fat new deal with the Shockers.

So, what they have ended up with is Johnson, who has never coached a game in college basketball.

Johnson spent 16 seasons in the NBA as a player before retiring in 2004. From there, he put together quite the coaching resume.

He was the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks from 2005-08, even earning himself NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2006 when he led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, where they were upset in six games by the Miami Heat. He would coach the Nets from 2010-12 and he has served as an analyst for ESPN since 2013.

Could this end up being remembered as a dynamite move by Alabama AD Bill Battle, or a desperation move that never really panned out in the end? Let us know in the comments below.

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