Former Michigan State basketball video coordinator Jordan Ott is set to land his first head coaching job, with multiple outlets reporting the Phoenix Suns have keyed in on the Tom Izzo disciple.
Ott, 40, was reported to be among the finalists for the job alongside fellow Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Johnnie Bryant earlier this week.
Both coaches interviewed with owner Mat Ishbia, general manager Brian Gregory and CEO Josh Bartelstein in Michigan this week in Michigan, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Ott will take over for recently-fired coach Mike Budenholzer, who lasted just one season in Phoenix. After a 36-46 record in the regular season, the Suns moved on and bring in their fourth head coach in four seasons.
Before joining coach Kenny Atkinson’s first staff in Cleveland this year, Ott had stints as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets (2016-2022) and Los Angeles Lakers (2022-2024).
His introduction to the NBA began with a video coordinator role with the Atlanta Hawks, coming shortly after the five years spent on Izzo’s Michigan State men’s basketball staff in the same position while earning a Master’s degree from the university.
Ott becomes the first ex-Spartans staffer to be name an NBA head coach since former Chicago Bulls coach Jim Boylen (2018-2020).
Michigan State has a lot of connections to the Suns organization right now, with Ishbia and Gregory each being former Spartans in their own right. Ishbia was a walk-on player and Gregory an assistant coach for Michigan State’s 2000 national championship team.
Despite the associations with Michigan State, Ishbia and Ott never met before their interview this week, according to a report from PHNX Sports.
However, Ott impressed the front office and reportedly did the same with franchise star Devin Booker, who was involved in the coaching search.
Charania says the four-time NBA All-Star “stamped Ott as his top choice as well” during the process.