The Don Nelson era has officially come to an in Oakland, once again.
Monday the Golden State Warriors officially introduced Keith Smart as their new coach. The former Nelson assistant was hired to replace his mentor.
Smart had been a Warriors assistant for the past seven years and served as an interim head coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, going 9-31. Nelson had the final year of his contract bought out.
The new coach added Stephen Silas, Jerry Sicting, Robert Werdann and Calbert Chaney as assistant coaches. Smart also added former shooting great Mark Price as the team's part-time shooting coach.
Nelson guided the Warriors to the playoffs for the first time in 13 years in 2007, but they have not returned since.
Smart played for Bobby Knight at Indiana and was on the Hoosiers' 1987 national championship team.
The Warriors drafted Smart in 1988, and he played briefly in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs.
