WALTHAM, Mass. -- Scott Morrison took a sabbatical from his head coaching duties at Lakehead University in Canada last year to spend a season as a volunteer assistant with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA Development League. He was trekking back to Thunder Bay, Ontario for the start of college training camp in early August when word came that he had been chosen to fill Maine’s head coaching vacancy for this season.
“It was kind of a quick change,” Morrison said Tuesday during a break from player development work at the Celtics' training facility. For the past two months, he’s lived in a hotel near the practice facility and soon he’ll have to get settled in Portland, all while hoping his home back in Canada sells soon. But he’s embraced the opportunity despite the logistical challenges.
“I’m getting kind of tired of the hotel, but at the same time, it’s my first glimpse of the NBA lifestyle, which is something I aspire to be involved with a little bit more,” Morrison said. “It’s great motivation heading down from Maine for myself and the players because it’s where we want to get to eventually.”
The 37-year-old Morrison becomes the fourth head coach in Red Claws history. The Prince Edward Island native is tasked with helping promote greater synergy between the parent club and the D-League affiliate and has spent the past two months working alongside Celtics coach Brad Stevens and his staff.
“You really can’t measure how much I’m getting out of this,” said Morrison. “Not only am I learning a lot, from the coaching staff and the players, but I’m also getting a head start on what we want to be running in Maine. And getting a chance to see Coach Stevens teach for the first time is a big help because I’ll be doing exactly the same thing in a month’s time.”
