In July, the Boston Celtics announced that former Penn men’s basketball coach Jerome Allen will join the team in an assistant coaching role.
It will be the first NBA coaching experience for Allen, who will support third-year Boston coach Brad Stevens as the Celtics look to improve on last season’s 40-42 record, which was good for the seventh seed in a weak Eastern Conference.
“For me, it’s a blessing,” Allen told The Boston Globe. “Brad had enough confidence in me to feel like I can add value. I am eager. I’m excited. I’m just looking forward to everything.”
Allen and Stevens have been friends for years, dating back to Stevens’ tenure at Butler University. When the Celtics were in Philadelphia to take on the 76ers last season, Allen helped facilitate a pregame shootaround at the historic Palestra for the NBA squad.
Allen’s tenure at Penn ended in rather disappointing fashion this spring, when the Quakers and their former star player agreed to part ways after a frustrating season in which the Quakers finished last in the Ivy League with a 4-10 conference record, part of a 9-19 overall mark.
Over parts of six seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, Allen amassed a 65-104 record, featuring just one winning campaign, in 2011-12.
Despite his generally disappointing coaching tenure, Allen is still grateful for the opportunities offered to him by Penn.
“I tried to look at it like I left [the Penn program] better than I found it,” Allen told the Globe. “When the door closed, I tried to keep a positive attitude. My time was up [there]. What can I complain about?”
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