Who is the Celtics staffer coach Ime Udoka had an affair with?
Less than a month before the start of the season, Celtics head coach Ime Udoka has been suspended for a year for improper relationship with a staffer.
Ime Udoka joined the Celtics last summer and after he took over the helm in January, turned the team’s fortunes around. In his first season as head coach, he led the Boston basketball franchise to its first NBA finals since 2010.
However, he will have to sit out the 2022-2023 season set to begin in less than a month after receiving a year-long suspension from the organization. The disciplinary action came after he committed “violations of team policies,” by making unwanted comments toward, as yet, an unidentified female member of the staff.
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Celtics leadership led to believe the intimate relationship was consensual
According to reporting in The Athletic, knowledge of the relationship was brought to the attention of the Celtics leadership in July. At that time they were led to believe that the relationship was consensual by both Udoka and the woman. However, a set of internal interviews were launched when the woman reported that Udoka made unwanted comments toward her.
On Thursday, former head coach and now franchise president, Brad Stevens and team owners met behind closed doors for an hours-long meeting. In the end they decided to hand down an unprecedented disciplinary action. In a statement the head coach was given a year-long suspension “for violations of team policy.” The fate of Udoka’s career with the franchise is now in question.
The suspended coach issued an apology to his family, the organization and fans for his actions:
“I want to apologize to our players, fans, the entire Celtics organization, and my family for letting them down. I am sorry for putting the team in this difficult situation, and I accept the team’s decision. Out of respect for everyone involved, I will have no further comment.”
Assistant coach Joe Mazzulla expected to take over coaching
The Celtics are due to open training next week and kick off the 2022-2023 campaign on 18 October. That will give little time for Udoka’s replacement to get settled in. Fortunately though, assistant coach Joe Mazzulla will reportedly serve as interim coach for the being. The 34-year-old coach joined the team in 2019 and served under both Stevens and Udoka.