The former Missouri guard gets his first head coaching opportunity
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Maine Celtics are expected to name Phil Pressey as the franchise’s next head coach.
Pressey will become the 11th head coach in team history, taking over for Tyler Lashbrook, who was named head coach in 2024.
Pressey, a former Missouri standout, went undrafted in 2013 but played on Boston’s summer league team earning himself a contract with the Celtics and after a strong showing in the NBA Summer League. He played two seasons in Boston before bouncing around the league with the Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and briefly the Golden State Warriors. He later played overseas in Spain with Movistar Estudiantes and FC Barcelona and in Turkey with Besiktas.
He also has ties to Maine. Early in his career, Pressey spent time with Maine as he developed through the Celtics organization.
Most recently, Pressey served as a player development coach for the Boston Celtics. He joined head coach Joe Mazzulla’s staff in the summer of 2023 and was part of a developmental pipeline that has proven crucial to Boston’s long-term success.
Boston’s G League affiliate has become a valuable asset in developing young talent. Players like JD Davison, Neemias Queta, Sam Hauser, and Baylor Scheierman have all spent time in Maine early in their careers. With the Celtics competing for championships in recent years, Maine has served as a proving ground for players not yet ready for rotation minutes at the NBA level.
Pressey’s experience in both playing and developing talent gives him a strong foundation heading into his first head coaching role. He’ll be tasked not only with leading Maine on the court, but continuing to help groom the next wave of players for Mazzulla’s Celtics.