CELTICS REMOVE INTERIM TAG, NAME JOE MAZZULLA FULL-TIME HEAD COACH

The Boston Celtics named Joe Mazzulla their full-time head coach on Thursday, removing the interim tag he has held throughout the season after stepping in for Ime Udoka.

Udoka initially was given a yearlong suspension before training camp for having an inappropriate relationship with a woman in the organization. The 34-year-old Mazzulla, an assistant under Udoka last season, will now replace his former boss, who will not return. Mazzulla is the NBA's youngest head coach.

Terms of his new deal were not immediately released, but the team said his promotion does include a contract extension.

“As he has shown, Joe is a very talented coach and leader,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens said in a statement. “He has a unique ability to galvanize a room around a mission. We are thankful for the work he has done to help get us to this point and excited that he has agreed to lead us into the future.”

The Celtics beat the Pistons 127109 on Wednesday night and head into the All-Star break leading the Eastern Conference with a 42-17 record. Mazzulla and his staff of assistants will coach Team Giannis — the team that will be captained by Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo — in the game Sunday at Salt Lake City. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown also garnered All-Star selections.

Mazzulla, who is from Johnston, R.I., was recognized as the Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for games played in October and November after leading the team to a league-best 18-4 record (.818).

He said Wednesday night that being on top of the East at the unofficial halfway point of the season is something he would take the time to appreciate over the All-Star break — enjoy it while also keeping an eye toward finishing the second half just as strongly.

“It's there, you can't run away, you can't ignore it,” he said. "I do think there is a comfort level knowing that. But that was kind of my message to the guys. That at the same time you can't be too comfortable because when we get back, it picks right up.”