NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Hornets coach Monty Williams has agreed to a four-year contract extension that would keep him in New Orleans through 2016.
The deal announced by the club Sunday morning comes as the 40-year-old Williams heads into the final year of the contract he received when he took his first NBA head coaching job in New Orleans in 2010.
The Hornets did not release contract terms, but Williams confirmed the length of the extension in a text message to The Associated Press.
Williams took the Hornets to the playoffs his first season with a 46-36 record. Last season, the club went 21-45 after trading star Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers in a deal that helped New Orleans build for the future with the acquisition of 23-year-old shooting guard Eric Gordon and an additional first-round draft choice.
The Hornets then won the NBA’s draft lottery and selected Kentucky star Anthony Davis first overall and added Duke’s Austin Rivers with the 10th pick.
This offseason, the Hornets have also traded to acquire forward Ryan Anderson from Orlando and center Robin Lopez from Phoenix.
“The Hornets have a promising future and an exciting young nucleus,” said Hornets executive vice president Mickey Loomis. “It is our opinion that Monty is the perfect coach to develop and lead this group of talent going forward.”
 
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