Boston Celtics: 4 potential replacements for Brad Stevens if he joins IU

Boston Celtics possible Brad Stevens replacement #3: Rick Pitino

Speaking of homecomings, Rick Pitino is currently in the midst of a triumphant coaching return to his home state himself. Born in the Big Apple, Pitino has led Iona (of New Rochelle) to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 after winning the MAAC conference in his first season with the Gaels.

Following a scandalous exit from college basketball following wild accusations and an investigation into the Louisville basketball program, Pitino’s banishment from the American head coaching circuit ended at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic last March.

With his Cardinals tenure behind him, Pitino has moved on to lead a mid-major into the Big Dance, and a respectable showing (or, obviously, an upset) against the SEC Champion Alabama Crimson Tide could put him back on the national coaching radar.

If that happens, the Boston Celtics should give him a call.

Boston Celtics possible Brad Stevens replacement #4: Patrick Ewing

The homecoming theme stops here with long-time New York Knicks star Patrick Ewing being the final suggestion. Unfortunately for Ewing, a happy return to his home couldn’t even occur after the Georgetown head coach was repeatedly badgered by the staff at Madison Square Garden during the Big East tournament.

Speaking of said tournament, the Hoyas shockingly won the Big East tournament and are now a #12-seeded conference champion of one of college basketball’s historically great conferences.

Ewing is only coaching in the nation’s capital with Georgetown because an NBA opportunity never came. The Knicks ship has seemingly sailed with the New York fanbase in love with a team with a 20-20 record seeing Tom Thibodeau as the team’s savior.

Charlotte and Orlando both had chances to promote Ewing as well, but his work with Dwight Howard and Al Jefferson to improve their post-games wasn’t convincing enough to have a franchise give him the reigns to the team.

Ewing is already on the national radar following Georgetown’s Big East victory, but an upset over the Colorado Buffaloes (and anyone else thereafter) would shoot him to the top of any competent team’s wish-list.