The Phoenix Suns have reportedly added their third assistant to new coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!According to Desert News‘ Sarah Todd on X, “Utah Jazz assistant coach Chad Forcier will be joining Mike Budenholzer’s staff in Phoenix, according to league sources.”
Utah Jazz assistant coach Chad Forcier will be joining Mike Budenholzer’s staff in Phoenix, according to league sources.
— Sarah Todd (@NBASarah) May 30, 2024
Forcier has 23 years of assistant coaching experience in the NBA, including four under Mike Budenholzer with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2019-23.
His first assistant coaching gig was with the Detroit Pistons from 2001-03, then he was an assistant with the Pacers from 2003-07 and for the San Antonio Spurs from 2007-16. Budenholzer was an assistant in San Antonio from 1996-2013.
After the Spurs, Forcier was the lead assistant coach for former Suns coach Frank Vogel on the Orlando Magic from 2016-18 and next the lead assistant for one season with the Memphis Grizzlies before heading to the Bucks and then Jazz this past season.
According to his LinkedIn. Forcier started his assistant coaching career in 1994 in the high school ranks before being an intern and then special assistant with the Seattle Supersonics from 1992-97. After this, Forcier worked at Oregon State, UCLA and the University of Portland before becoming an assistant in Detroit.
David Fizdale is reportedly returning to Phoenix as an assistant, while the Suns also reportedly landed one of Budenholzer’s previous assistants, Vince Legarza, three days ago, according to AZ Central’s Duane Rankin.
The Suns officially hired Budenholzer to replace Vogel on May 11.
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
