John Beilein’s tenure as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers is officially over.
As expected, Beilein resigned on Wednesday, just 54 games into his first season as the Cavs’ head coach. The organization said Beilein would be reassigned to a different role within the franchise.
“This was a very difficult decision for me, but I want to be clear – this was my decision to step down and I truly appreciate the understanding and support of the front office during this time,” Beilein said in a team statement. “I find losing very challenging and this year has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected. I grew concerned for the consequences this toll could potentially take on my own health and my family’s well-being down the road. I was not certain I could be at my best for the remainder of the season and in the future. That would not be fair to the players, coaches and support staff.”
The Cavaliers did not explicitly confirm it, but Beilein’s statement mentioned J.B. Bickerstaff’s readiness to take over the head coach role. He is expected to get the job going forward.
The Cavs have a 14-40 record this season, a rate of losing that Beilein simply isn’t accustomed to. His fundamentals-first approach was not a good fit for the NBA, and he caused further issues for himself when he inadvertently referred to his players as “thugs.” Though he will remain with the organization for now, a return to college could be a possibility once the season ends and jobs open up at that level.
