Joe Mazzulla Wins First NBA Playoff Series in Head Coaching Career

Joe Mazzulla, former WVU guard and current head coach of the Boston Celtics, recorded his first NBA playoff series win in his head coaching career. Mazzulla clinched the series win in game six against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night.

Joe Mazzulla talks last 5 minutes when the Celtics turned things UP to get the win in Atlanta pic.twitter.com/mMvwrt3dNb

— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) April 28, 2023

The Celtics, who earned the 2-seed, will play 3-seed Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

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.