Warriors coaching shake-up: Top assistants Stotts and Stackhouse exit before 2026

Golden State Warriors assistant coaches Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse are leaving the franchise after the 2026 season.

Departures of Stotts and Stackhouse The Golden State Warriors are set for coaching changes even as head coach Steve Kerr returns for another two seasons. Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse, the team’s top two assistants, are leaving the organization this week. Stotts completed his second year as Kerr’s lead assistant and offensive coordinator, while Stackhouse served two seasons as the defensive coordinator. Both moves mark the end of their tenures with the Warriors following nearly two full years in their roles. ## Stotts' coaching background Terry Stotts brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to his departure from the Warriors. His most notable stretch came during a nine-season stint as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. Late in the regular season, he informed Kerr of his decision not to return, but emphasized their positive working relationship. Stotts described his time with the Warriors as fulfilling and expressed well wishes for the team and staff. ## Stackhouse's career move Jerry Stackhouse joined the Warriors in July 2024 to fill the defensive coordinator role left vacant by Kenny Atkinson’s departure to Cleveland. Before his NBA coaching career, Stackhouse spent five seasons as head coach at Vanderbilt University. According to league sources, he is leaving to pursue head coaching opportunities elsewhere. Draymond Green previously suggested Stackhouse as a candidate for the North Carolina head coaching job before the school hired Michael Malone instead. ## Other coaching transitions Chris DeMarco, another assistant on Kerr’s bench this past season, left in January to take the head coaching job with the New York Liberty. His exit elevated Kris Weems, a longtime assistant who is expected to stay on the Warriors’ coaching staff. The team will now focus on rebuilding key coaching positions as part of broader organizational adjustments under Kerr’s leadership. ## Potential replacements The Warriors are in the early stages of filling the vacancies left by Stotts and Stackhouse. Willie Green is among the candidates under consideration, sources noted. Green previously worked with the Warriors as an assistant coach from 2016 to 2019 and shares a close relationship with Kerr. His potential return would reunite him with the franchise where he began his NBA coaching journey. ## Kerr's contract extension After considering retirement, Steve Kerr agreed to a two-year contract extension to remain as the Golden State Warriors’ head coach. The deal makes him the highest-paid coach in the NBA. The Warriors finished last season with 37 wins and missed the playoffs via the play-in tournament. Team management indicated the need for adjustments during postseason discussions with Kerr. ## Future roster and staff plans Over the next two months, during the NBA’s transaction season, the Warriors plan to refresh their roster around Stephen Curry and restructure the coaching staff under Kerr. The organization aims to build a competitive team while implementing changes to address last season’s shortcomings. These moves reflect a broader effort to revitalize the franchise heading into the 2026-27 season.