Cavaliers hire Michigan's John Beilein as head coach

Kirstie Chiappelli

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Cavaliers hire Michigan's John Beilein as head coach image

Cleveland has its new coach.

Michigan’s John Beilein has agreed to a multi-year contract to become the next head coach of the Cavaliers, the team announced Monday.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski‏, who cited unidentified league sources, the deal is for five years and comes after "talks escalated over the weekend" before an agreement was reached on Sunday. The report noted that Beilein informed his administration and players of his decision Monday morning.

Before the move was made official, Beilein posted a farewell tweet thanking Michigan for his 12 years as coach there. The Wolverines had posted a thank-you tweet of their own shortly after. 

"It has been a heck of a ride and I hope you enjoyed our teams and staff as much as I did!" Beilein wrote, in part. "Go Blue Forever!" 

Beilein previously interviewed with the Pistons last season and while he was considered a finalist for the vacant head coach position, Detroit instead hired former Raptors coach Dwane Casey. 

The news comes after the Cavs ramped up their coaching search over the weekend by traveling to Denver to interview four candidates, including Nuggets assistant coach Jordi Fernandez, Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr., Magic assistant Steve Hetzel and Trail Blazers assistant David Vanterpool.

The hunt began this past season after the team fired Tyronn Lue and named Larry Drew as interim coach. Under Drew, Cleveland posted just a 19-win season.

Beilein, 66, has led Michigan to two Final Four appearances and four Big Ten titles in his 12-year stint with the Wolverines.

His overall record as a college coach is 754-425 and he leaves the school as the winningest coach in Michigan basketball history.

Kirstie Chiappelli