DALLAS — Stephen Silas signed a multi-year contract today to become the lead assistant coach for Dallas Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle, who announced the transaction via text.
Silas replaces Melvin Hunt, who spent the past three seasons as an assistant on Carlisle’s staff before joining the staff of new Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce earlier this week.
Generally regarded as one of the NBA’s top assistant coaches, Silas was an assistant for the Charlotte Hornets for the past eight seasons. Before that he was an assistant coach with Golden State (2006-’10), a scout with Washington (2005-’06), an assistant coach with Cleveland (2003-’05), an assistant coach with New Orleans (2002-’03), an assistant coach with Charlotte (200-’02), and a scout with Charlotte (1999-’00).
Silas coached the Hornets to a 9-12 record this season from Dec. 4-Jan. 15 when he was Charlotte’s interim head coach after head coach Steve Clifford was sidelined for health reasons.
Silas, 44, played four years and graduated from Brown University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and management.
Ironically, there is a direct connection between Silas and Carlisle. Silas’ father, Paul Silas, was an assistant coach with the New Jersey Nets in the 1988-’89 and ’92-’95 seasons. Carlisle played for the Nets during the 1988-’89 season and was an assistant coach with the Nets from 1989-’94.
Meanwhile, Melvin Hunt previously worked for the Denver Nuggets (2010-’15), Cleveland Cavaliers (2005-’10), the Los Angeles Lakers (2004-’05) and Houston Rockets (1999-’04), and also was the interim head coach for the Nuggets for 23 games during the 2014-’15 season.
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