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Brooklyn Nets Name Kenny Atkinson Head Coach

By Kenneth Teape

Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks (left) instructs World Team guard Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (22) during the second half against the U.S. Team at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; World Team head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Atlanta Hawks (left) instructs World Team guard Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves (22) during the second half against the U.S. Team at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Brooklyn Nets have found their man to be their next head coach, hiring Atlanta Hawks’ assistant Kenny Atkinson.

The Brooklyn Nets head coaching search is already over. After releasing some names as targets last week, the Nets have went down a totally different path for their new head coach, as they have named Atlanta Hawks’ assistant coach Kenny Atkinson as their new head man.

Last week it was being rumored that the Nets were interested in former New York Knicks and Houston Rockets head coach Jeff Van Gundy, and two San Antonio Spurs assistants, Ime Udoka and Ettore Messina. The rumored interest in the Spurs assistants make sense because new general manager Sean Marks spent a number of seasons with the organization, so looking at people you are comfortable with makes sense.

But, there is also a connection with Atkinson, as Hawks’ head coach, Mike Budenholzer, was a former Spurs assistant as well. Marks used other resources from his Spurs connection and has landed the Long Island native as the next head coach of the Nets. Atkinson will be the sixth Nets’ head coach since their move to Brooklyn, following in the steps of Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jason Kidd, Lionel Hollins and Tony Brown. None of the aforementioned coaches lasted two full seasons, so they are hoping that Atkinson can end that streak.

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“We are thrilled to announce Kenny Atkinson as our new head coach and to welcome him and his family to Brooklyn,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in a statement. “Kenny’s years of NBA coaching experience working under successful head coaches such as Mike Budenholzer and Mike D’Antoni have provided him with the foundation and experience we were looking for in a head coach. We believe that Kenny’s core principles, leadership, communication skills and exceptional background in player development make him an ideal fit for the culture we are building in Brooklyn.”

Atkinson has been an assistant coach with the Hawks for the past four seasons, and was an assistant with the Knicks from 2008-2012 before joining the Hawks staff. Nets’ owner Mikhail Prokhorov is happy to have Atkinson aboard, saying the following in a statement:

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"“I’d like to extend a personal welcome to Kenny and wish all of us success as we begin a new era at the Brooklyn Nets. Aside from his tremendous skills and experience, he has the mindset we need to build a winning team day by day, step by step. Together, we can do great things.”"

Atkinson also delivered some words in the statement, saying, “I am truly honored and humbled to be named the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets, and I would like to thank Nets’ ownership and management for this tremendous opportunity. Together with Sean and his staff, we look forward to building a winning tradition here in Brooklyn. I also want to acknowledge and thank Mike Budenholzer and the entire Atlanta Hawks organization for their cooperation and support throughout this process. While I am eager to begin working with the Nets, I remain committed to my coaching responsibilities with the Hawks for the remainder of the postseason.”

Atkinson will continue to work with the Hawks throughout their postseason run, and then will officially come over to the Nets to begin his work there as the head coach.

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