Joe Mazzulla to return as Celtics head coach

Mazzulla took over when coach Ime Udoka was suspended for the season in September for multiple violations of team rules

Joe Mazzulla remains head coach of the Boston Celtics and will return next season, team president Brad Stevens said Thursday.

“He’s a terrific leader,” Stevens said. “He’ll only get better at anything that he can learn from this year, because he’s constantly trying to learn. And he’s accountable.”

Mazzulla, 34, led the Celtics to a 57-25 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference in his first season on the bench. Boston’s season ended Monday with a Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the East finals.