Penn State alum Jordan Ott has been hired to be the next head coach of the Phoenix Suns, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. The details of Ott’s contract with Phoenix were not disclosed.

Ott received his undergraduate degree in sports management from Penn State in 2006. After graduating, he went to Michigan State, where he received a master’s degree in athletic administration, before entering the NBA. He became the Atlanta Hawks’ video coordinator in 2013 for three years.

In 2016, Ott moved up to the coaching ranks as he was hired by the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach. He was the Nets’ assistant coach for six years before he became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022. The McConnellsburg native was an assistant coach for the Lakers for two years prior to becoming an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2024.

Ott, under his leadership as well as Cavaliers’ head coach Kenny Atkinson, led the Cavaliers to a 64-18 record this past season. They had the best record in the Eastern Conference despite being eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. This led him to be a top candidate in the head coach search for the Suns.

Ott will become Phoenix’s fourth head coach in four seasons. He’ll replace Mike Budenholtzer, who was fired in April after just one season with the Suns. He will be the only head coach in the NBA with ties to Penn State.