Joe Mazzulla Coaches Celtics to Game 7 Win, Advances to Eastern Conference Finals

Joe Mazzulla coached the Boston Celtics to a game seven win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday afternoon, winning 112-88. Mazzulla, a former WVU guard, advances the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals and will have a rematch with the Miami Heat from last year.

Boston was down 3-2 in the series, completing the comeback and stealing the series.

Joe Mazzulla: “I’m gonna go home and grab a glass of wine and start watching film on Miami.”

— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 14, 2023

Joe Mazzulla got crucified after Game 5.

Rookie head coach made the biggest adjustment of the series – the double big lineup – and it paid off.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 14, 2023

Mazzulla is currently in his first season as the Celtics head coach after taking over the interim duties for Ime Udoka. Mazzulla has led the reigning Eastern Conference Champions to 57 wins. Mazzulla also coached in the NBA All-Star Game back in February.

Mazzulla, who played guard at West Virginia from 2006-11, has worked his way up the coaching ladder over the past decade. Mazzulla began pursing a coaching career following his graduation from West Virginia. Following coaching stints at Glenville State and Fairmont State, the former Mountaineer was hired as an assistant of the Maine Red Claws, Boston’s G-League team. Mazzulla went back to Fairmont State in 2017 to serve as the head coach of the Fighting Falcons.

During his WVU days, Mazzulla was most known for his 17-point performance in the 2010 Elite Eight against Kentucky. Mazzulla stepped in for an injured Truck Bryant, helping the Mountaineers reach their first Final Four since 1959. Mazzulla played 145 career games at West Virginia.