Hawks hire Lloyd Pierce as head coach

Assistant has been on 76ers coach Brown’s staff for the past five seasons.

The Hawks reached an agreement with Lloyd Pierce to be their head coach, the team announced Friday night.

Pierce will receive a three-year contract with a team option for a fourth season, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Pierce, 42, has been on 76ers coach Brett Brown’s staff for the past five seasons. The Sixers lost 54 or more games during Brown’s first four seasons before the players they accumulated with high draft picks formed the core of this season’s team, which lost to the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals this week.

The Hawks are followi ng a rebuilding path like Philadelphia’s.

“As we set out to find a new head coach for our team, it was critically important to find a dynamic teacher who could connect with and develop our young core while instilling the culture and high stan- dards we feel are necessary in a successful program,” Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk said in a statement released by the team. “Lloyd Pierce checks every box, and we couldn’t be more excited to have him leading the Atlanta Hawks into the future.”

Pierce succeeds Mike Budenholzer as Hawks coach. The Hawks and Budenholzer parted ways after five seasons. The Hawks said they will officially introduce Pierce at a Monday news conference.

Pierce’s Hawks candidacy was buoyed by working with Schlenk for part of one season in Golden State. Pierce was hired by the Warriors in December 2010 after Stephen Silas left for a position with the Hornets. Mark Jackson, then head coach of the Warriors, didn’t retain Pierce for the next season.

Pierce reportedly was in charge of Philadelphia’s defense this season. The Sixers ranked fourth in defensive efficiency during the regular season.

Pierce will reportedly receive 3-year contract with team option for fourth.