Celtics assistant Walter McCarty hired as Evansville head coach

Longtime Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty will be getting a team of his own next season as the University of Evansville announced Thursday they are hiring McCarty as the head coach of their men's basketball team.

McCarty, 44, has been in the running for college head coach positions the past couple seasons but Evansville is a nice fit for the former NBA player, since it is actually his hometown. He will be introduced at a press conference by the school on Friday evening. 

McCarty joined the Celtics coaching staff in August 2013, one month after the team hired Brad Stevens as the team's new head coach. He has been part of a strong staff with valuable continuity over the past few seasons for Stevens, as Ron Adams (Warriors) has been the only assistant that has left Boston over the last few years. Micah Shrewsberry, Jamie Young and Jay Larranaga have all been with Stevens for his entire tenure in Boston.

While losing McCarty midseason is a tough hit for Stevens in the interim, it is a great opportunity for the 10-year NBA veteran to help revitalize a struggling Evansville program. He will be taking over for Marty Simmons, who was fired after the completion of the 2017-18 season.