Suns add new assistant coach Michael Ruffin to staff
Sep 24, 2021, 3:49 PM
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 03: New Orleans Pelicans assistant Michael Ruffin before the New Orleans Pelicans vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA basketball game on January 03, 2019, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Phoenix Suns on Friday announced the addition of assistant coach Michael Ruffin, plus Jamal Gross and Corey Vinson to the title of player development coach/video coordinator.
Ruffin, 44, was on the New Orleans Pelicans’ coaching staff from 2014-20. He started as a player development coach under Suns head coach Monty Williams in New Orleans, spending time as an assistant coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach as well.
The new assistant in Phoenix had a nine-year playing career from 1999-2009, spending time on the Bulls, 76ers, Jazz, Wizards, Bucks and the Blazers.
With Ruffin on the Suns’ staff, he joins fellow new assistant coaches Kevin Gates, Jarrett Jack and Steve Scalzi alongside the returning Randy Ayers, Mark Bryant, Brian Randle and Kevin Young.
Gross spent the last two seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers as an assistant for video and player development while Vinson will be entering his second year with the Suns, previously assisting with player development and video.
