Report: Earl Watson adds former Jazz coach, Phoenix player Ty Corbin to staff
Jun 26, 2016, 8:46 PM
Utah Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin calls to his team against the New Orleans Pelicans in the first half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Friday, March 28, 2014. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
Earl Watson’s fast rise to head coach may leave observers of the Phoenix Suns wary about his brief coaching resume. The head coach’s latest hire to his staff does more to quell such concerns.
Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com reports that Watson has an agreement with former Utah Jazz and Sacramento Kings head coach Ty Corbin to join his staff.
Ty Corbin agrees to join staff of Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson, league source tells @clevelanddotcom. Watson forming robust bench.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 25, 2016
According to ESPN’s Marc Stein, Corbin chose to join Phoenix and Watson, his former player with the Jazz, instead of heading to the Golden State Warriors, who have a vacancy with former assistant Luke Walton taking the Los Angeles Lakers’ opening.
ESPN reported during the Finals that Mike Brown and Ty Corbin had emerged as the top two targets for Golden State to fill Luke Walton's spot
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) June 26, 2016
The addition gives Watson more experience to the Suns’ new staff.
Since becoming the permanent head coach, Watson has retained Nate Bjorkgren and reportedly hired former Blazers assistant and Team Canada head coach Jay Triano.
Corbin, who also played in Phoenix from 1988-89, spent three-plus seasons with the Jazz, which included two winning seasons. He last coached 28 games for the Kings and has a 119-167 overall record.
With Utah, Corbin led a staff that from 2011-13 included former Suns head coach Jeff Hornacek. From 2010-13, Corbin was Watson’s coach in the point guard’s second-to-last stop as a player.
