Former Thunder Assistant Monty Williams to Join Spurs Staff

<p>Former Thunder assistant Monty Williams is joining the Spurs' coaching staff after taking some time off after a tragic car accident took the life of his wife, Ingrid. </p>

Saturday, July 30th 2016, 10:15 am

By: Brett Coppenbarger

Former Thunder Assistant Monty Williams to Join Spurs Staff

Monty Williams was an assistant coach for the Thunder before a tragic car accident in Oklahoma City took the life of his wife, Ingrid Williams, and after five months off to take care of his five children, it looks like Williams is ready to get back into coaching.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported on Friday night that Williams will be joining the San Antonio Spurs coaching staff.

USA Basketball assistant coach Monty Williams is expected to join the San Antonio Spurs' staff next season in a TBD role, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 30, 2016

This is a solid career move for Williams, who played for the Spurs and also began his coaching career in San Antonio as an intern. Spurs' head coach Gregg Popovich wants Williams to take on as much of a role with the organization as he feels comfortable. San Antonio has opened the door to either a coaching and player-development role or a front- office position, according to Stein.

Stein also said numerous teams have made similar offers to Williams, including the Thunder.

Williams stayed silent in the months following the passing of his wife, but the former Pelicans head coach has been helping out with Team USA basketball this summer and even opened up about the accident in a recent interview with ESPN's Hannah Storm.

I got the call that nobody wants to get," Williams told Storm. "And I knew when I was talking to my daughter, because she answered the phone, I knew at that moment that my life was going to change. I can't explain it, but I knew that everything was going to be different. I didn't know what was going on at the hospital. I just knew that my life was going to change. I don't know why. I can't explain it. I just felt that in my heart, like, this phone call was different. It's one of those things you never get rid of. You never forget where you were. You never forget what you were doing. It's the phone call that you don't want anybody to ever get. It certainly could have broken me to the point of quitting. But God and his graciousness has given me the strength and good people to help us go forward.

Williams also talked about how great it's been to coach for Team USA.

Yeah, it was the one thing -- like, I've only had peace about a few things. I knew I had to take care of my kids and stop coaching, but also knew that I wanted to be part of USA Basketball, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I can't wait to get back and start coaching, you know? And I wouldn't even think that if I didn't know, one, my wife would want me to, my kids talk about it all the time. And there have been some things that have happened in my life lately that have allowed me to get that back. I'm so juiced up and ready to get back into it again.

It's encouraging to see Williams move forward with his life after suffering a terrible tragedy, and it looks like San Antonio is the next step in the recovery process.

Stein also said numerous teams have made similar offers to Williams, including the Thunder.

I got the call that nobody wants to get," Williams told Storm. "And I knew when I was talking to my daughter, because she answered the phone, I knew at that moment that my life was going to change. I can't explain it, but I knew that everything was going to be different. I didn't know what was going on at the hospital. I just knew that my life was going to change. I don't know why. I can't explain it. I just felt that in my heart, like, this phone call was different. It's one of those things you never get rid of. You never forget where you were. You never forget what you were doing. It's the phone call that you don't want anybody to ever get. It certainly could have broken me to the point of quitting. But God and his graciousness has given me the strength and good people to help us go forward.

Williams also talked about how great it's been to coach for Team USA.

Yeah, it was the one thing -- like, I've only had peace about a few things. I knew I had to take care of my kids and stop coaching, but also knew that I wanted to be part of USA Basketball, because it's a once-in-a-lifetime thing. I can't wait to get back and start coaching, you know? And I wouldn't even think that if I didn't know, one, my wife would want me to, my kids talk about it all the time. And there have been some things that have happened in my life lately that have allowed me to get that back. I'm so juiced up and ready to get back into it again.

It's encouraging to see Williams move forward with his life after suffering a terrible tragedy, and it looks like San Antonio is the next step in the recovery process.

","published":"2016-07-30T15:15:47.000Z","updated":"2016-07-30T20:36:09.000Z","summary":"

Former Thunder assistant Monty Williams is joining the Spurs' coaching staff after taking some time off after a tragic car accident took the life of his wife, Ingrid.

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