The basketball talking heads, myself included, pondered the names from which we assumed the Celtics would choose from for a new head coach to replace Doc Rivers. George Karl-check....Lionel Hollins-check......Vinny Del Negro--check. Brad Stevens-What? The head coach of Butler? Yes that Brad Stevens. Yeah nobody Had check next to that. Yes that is exactly who Celts GM Danny Ainge plucked to be the next coach of the C's.

Ainge stuns the basketball world by snagging perhaps the hottest name in college coaching, if not top 5. How he did it without a sniff of dropping hints was brilliant.

Stevens agrees to a 6 year deal for a reported 22 million. His sparkling resume at Butler sold Ainge and the Celts.

Stevens, in 6 years at Butler won 166 games while losing only 49. The Bulldogs made it to 2 straight NCAA title games, barely losing the Duke at the buzzer and then getting blown out by Connecticut. His 166 games won are the most ever for a 6 year coach in division 1.

Stevens also helped Butler ascend in conference quality. From the Horizon league to the Atlantic 10 and now to the new Catholic conference that begins play in 2013.

The Celts seem to be in rebuild mode but with the crafty Ainge you just never know.

Last time Boston hired a college coach it was Rick Pitino. That didn't go well. The last time Boston hired a college coach with no NBA experience was way back in the 1940's with a fella named Alvin Julian.

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