Beilein resigns, says emotional goodbye to Cavs
Associated Press
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — John Beilein stood in front of the Cavaliers and emotionally explained why he’s leaving. This was goodbye.
But even on his way out, the admired coach gave his players one last lesson. He showed them honesty, dignity and vulnerability. He admitted the losing had beaten him.
Beilein said he couldn’t go on.
“It took a real man to do that today,” Cavs forward Kevin Love said. “Everybody you talk to will say they respected the hell out of him.”
One of college basketball’s most successful coaches over the past two decades, Beilein didn’t make it through one NBA season. He resigned Wednesday after just 54 games with the rebuilding Cavaliers, who can’t seem to find the right person to lead their team.
The 67-year-old Beilein never got comfortable during his short stint in the pros. The demands of travel, lack of practice time and a group of players who didn’t respond to his coaching style or respect him — until it was too late — proved to be too much, so he decided to move when the team returned from the All-Star break.
“This was a very difficult decision for me, but I want to be clear — this was my decision to step down and I truly appreciate the understanding and support of the front office during this time,” Beilein said in a statement released by the team. “I find losing very challenging and this year has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected. I grew concerned for the consequences this toll could potentially take on my own health and my family’s well-being down the road.
“I was not certain I could be at my best for the remainder of the season and in the future.”
Before the Cavs officially announced his resignation, Beilein spoke to his players. Love described the coach’s actions as “ballsy” and the mood as “powerful.”