National Basketball Association

Alabama hires former NBA coach, player Avery Johnson to lead team

Published Apr. 5, 2015 10:31 p.m. ET

foxsports

Alabama has hired former NBA player and coach Avery Johnson to lead the basketball program.

Crimson Tide athletic director Bill Battle announced the hire Monday night in a statement. The terms of his contract won't be released until it's approved by the board of trustees' compensation committee.

Battle cited Johnson's record as a professional player and coach and says "he has shown fortitude and skill in every opportunity."

Johnson had stints as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, but this is his first college coaching job.

Johnson led the Mavericks to their first NBA Finals appearance and was the NBA Coach of the Year in 2006. He was fired by the Nets in December 2012 and had been working as an ESPN analyst.