By Stephen Smoot
The newest NBA champion just happened to be a Mountaineer. There are only a handful of former West Virginia basketball alums that have left Morgantown and went on to win a title on the professional level. Joe Mazzulla is the newest name on that list as he guided the Boston Celtics back to title town.
Mazzulla was a fan favorite at West Virginia. A blue collar player that hung around Morgantown from 2006 to 2011. I know some of you math majors figured out that he spent five years in the hoops program. Mazzulla was forced to redshirt the 08-09 campaign due to a shoulder injury. A surgery, severe pain, and a truckload of frustration led to some bad choices of Joe Mazzulla. He was arrested in the spring of 09 for domestic battery at a bar, prompting the head coach, Bob Huggins, to suspend the southpaw from Rhode Island.
It was the low point for Mazzulla and his playing career at WVU was in jeopardy. He received a phone call from another Mountaineer that just happens to be on that above mentioned list, Jerry West. That call was a difference-maker for Mazzulla. He cleaned up his act, stopped throwing and pulling punches, and was named team captain in 2010.
That year Mazzulla would lead West Virginia to the Final Four. It was the program’s second, and last, appearance. The first to take them there was, ironically, Jerry West.
Mazzulla wanted to play in the pros, but that dream never came to fruition. His love for the game led led him into coaching and local hoops fans had a chance to catch Mazzulla in action closer to home. He was an assistant coach at Glenville State from 2011-2013, then came right to Harrison County’s back door from 2013 to 2016 as an assistant at Fairmont State. A year spent close to home as an assistant for the Maine Red Claws made MAzzulla homesick for his second home in the Mountain State.
Jerrod Calhoun had left Fairmont State and the door was opened for Mazzulla to start his head coaching career. He guided the Falcon program from 2017 to 2019. The Celtics came calling and Joe just couldn’t say no. He was an assistant from 19 to 22. Last year, he was named the interim head coach and led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals. His efforts earned high praise from around the league and “interim” was removed from his title.
At age 35, Mazzulla became the youngest coach since Bill Russell (in 1969) to win the championship. He has earned the respect of his players and they have contrived to heap praise on him for his leadership throughout the season. Boston had the most regular season wins to go with the title, proving to be the most consistent team in basketball.
The entire roster is back for next year, which has hoop fans talking repeat. The nucleus of the roster will also be intact for several years, which has “dynasty” on the minds of Celtic fans.
Mazzulla is in a great place and it should only get better. His work ethic at WVU was impressive and he has shown the same desire to grow as a coach. As impressive as he has been, roaming the sidelines so far, the best is yet to come.
That will do it for now. Until next weel . . . take care and God Bless!