Who is Joe Mazzulla? NBA's youngest coach to win a title since Bill Russell in 1969

Joe Mazzulla recently made headlines after guiding the Boston Celtics to the 2024 NBA title. Shortly after, some publications reported that he was the youngest coach to accomplish this achievement. Although stunning, this declaration does not disclose the complete reality.

Mazzulla, 35 years and 11 months old, played a critical part in putting a stop to the Boston tragedy. Under his leadership, the organisation won its 18th NBA title, making it the most successful franchise in history.

Mazzulla is the youngest head coach to win an NBA championship since the late great Bill Russell. The latter accomplished this accomplishment as a player-coach for the Boston Celtics in 1969, only a month after turning 35. However, Harry "Buddy" Jeannette remains the NBA's youngest coach to accomplish this distinction. At 30 years and 7 months old, he led the Baltimore Bullets to the 1948 BAA title in his second season as a player-coach.

37th coach in NBA history to win a championship

After a couple of seasons as an assistant coach, he took over as head coach at Fairmont State University in 2017. In the first season with the team, his record was 21-8. Two years later, he made his anticipated NBA debut as an assistant to former Celtics head coach Ime Udoka. He is the 37th coach in NBA history to win a championship, and the seventh from the Celtics bench, joining Red Auerbach, Bill Russell, Tom Heinsohn, Bill Fitch, K.C. Jones, and Doc Rivers.

Before taking over Boston Celtics Joe Mazzulla was coach of Fairmont State in West Virginia. During this time, his record was 43-17 and it was in the NCCA Tournament in his second season. In 2019 Joe Mazzulla was a member of the Boston Celtics coaching staff under Stevens. Later in 2022, the Boston Celtics hired him as the head coach and now two years later he won the 18^th NBA Title with Boston Celtics.