Paul Mokeski Earns Head Coaching Job With Reno Bighorns

Paul Mokeski took the long way to a head coaching job, but the longtime assistant coach has finally earned his first head coaching opportunity. The former NBA player will be named the head coach of the Reno Bighorns later this afternoon.

Mokeski pursued many of the head coaching positions open this summer and after what looked like would end up being the D-League's version of "always the bridesmaid but never the bride," the Bighorns finally decided that he would get the promotion he's been working toward.

"I would love the opportunity to be a head coach in the DLeague and am hoping to get interviews with a few teams this summer," Mokeski told me earlier in the search process. "I would like the chance to continue to teach players and help them accomplish their dream of playing in the NBA."

Mokeski has previously served as an assistant coach in the D-League with Fort Worth Flyers, Anaheim Arsenal and Rio Grande Valley Vipers; in the NBA with the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Bobcats; and most recently this summer with the Great Britain National Team. Before transitioning to a coaching career, Mokeski played 12 years in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks and Golden State Warriors.

Mokeski replaces Eric Musselman as the Bighorns head coach after Musselman took an opportunity to coach the Los Angeles Lakers D-League affiliate D-Fenders.