Rhode Island native Justin Mazzulla on Thursday became the fifth head coach in the history of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CBLE) team.
“Justin Mazzulla represents exactly the standard of excellence we want for the Ottawa BlackJacks. He was an important member of one of the most innovative coaching groups in the NBA,” said team general manager James Derouin.
“We don’t just want to be competitive. We want to lead the league in innovation and intensity. Justin is the architect to lead us there,” adds Derouin.
Mazzulla is the current assistant video coordinator for the Utah Jazz, a promotion after serving as video coordinator and assistant coach for the Salt Lake City Stars, the Jazz’s G League affiliate.
The brother of the new BlackJacks pilot, Joe Mazzulla, is the head coach of the Boston Celtics.
The youngest in the LECB
At 27, he became the youngest head coach in the history of the LECB. He thus surpasses Victor Raso who was 28 when he was hired by the Niagara River Lions in 2019.
“I chose Ottawa because of the group of owners, the management and the leaders of the team who believed in me, who are ready to give me a chance,” declared Justin Mazzulla.
In these new functions, the American replaces David DeAveiro whose contract was not renewed after one season at the helm of the BlackJacks.
Worth a look
