Casey spent the last three years as an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks, who won their first NBA title earlier this month. He also was an assistant with the Seattle SuperSonics from 1994-2005, then spent a year and a half as head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“After a lengthy and detailed search for our new head coach, it became very clear that Dwane Casey embodies every aspect of what we defined as an ideal candidate,” said Raptors president and general manager Bryan Colangelo in a statement. “Dwane’s 16-plus years in NBA coaching circles, working with some tremendous basketball mentors, coupled with his proven ability as a defensive architect, will serve as a great backdrop for the future approach of this team.”
Casey’s brief tenure in Minnesota included a record of 33-49 during the 2005-06 season — his only full year on the job. He was fired after a 20-20 start the following year.
“The experiences I’ve had… all that has helped what I stand for, what I plan to instill in our guys and staff,” Casey said at a Tuesday news conference. “Even getting fired in Minnesota was great. It was a good experience. I learned from it, I learned what to do and what not to do.”
The Raptors needed a replacement for Jay Triano, who was not retained as head coach after a 22-60 mark this past season.
“We will get better,” Casey stated. “The roster has a good talent base.”
Casey is known for his defensive schemes. A total of 12 of his teams have finished in the top half of the league in fewest average points allowed and 10 have been in the league’s top-15 in lowest opponent field goal percentage.
Under Rick Carlisle in Dallas, Casey was in charge of a defensive unit that held opponents to 96.0 points per game this past season — sixth-best in the NBA.
Prior to joining the Sonics in 1994, Casey spent five years as a head coach in Japan. He also was an assistant on the collegiate level at his alma mater, Kentucky, under Eddie Sutton from 1985-90, and also served as a collegiate assistant at Western Kentucky from 1980-85.
Casey was part of Kentucky’s 1978 national championship team as a junior under Joe B. Hall.
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