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Tuesday 14 May 2019

Leap of

faith: Cavs J.D.

sign

Michigan's

Beilein to POWERS

5-year deal

By TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND (AP) — John
Beilein has spent a coach-
ing lifetime taking ordi-
nary programs and turning
them into consistent win-
ning ones.
All in college.
He's getting his NBA shot.
The Cavaliers ended a
monthlong search Monday
by hiring Beilein, a 66-year-
old offensive mastermind
who made Michigan a pe-
rennial powerhouse and
now takes over a rebuild-
ing project in Cleveland.
Beilein got a five-year deal
with the Cavs, who believe
he can make the success-
ful leap from campus.
Beilein's signing is some-
what surprising given his
age, lack of pro experi-
ence and because the
Cavs, who have had six
previous coaches since
2009, had been speak-
ing almost exclusively with
younger NBA assistants
during their interview pro-
cess.
Beilein isn't the safest pick
or the sexiest, but Cavs
general manager Koby
Altman said he precisely
fits the coaching profile he
wanted.
“We interviewed several
strong and talented can-
didates who, no doubt,
will get an opportunity to
become an NBA head
coach somewhere down
the line,” Altman said. “Fol- Martinez 2 HRs, Chavis 5 RBIs
lowing the end of those in-
terviews, it became clear as Red Sox pound M's 11-2
to us that Coach Beilein
was the right choice and
best fit for our franchise. Seattle Mariners' Marco Gonzales, left, steps on the mound as Boston Red Sox's J.D. Martinez, right, runs the bases toward home
after hitting a home run off a pitch from him in the first inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Sunday, May 12, 2019, in Boston.
Continued on Page 19 Associated Press
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