Major changes coming to Celtics' sports science program

Bryan Doo and Kevin Garnett, courtesy of Bryan Doo/Boston Globe
Change is always in play when offseasons come.

It's what they are for, after all. Seasons end, contracts end, or are dealt to other rosters. Drafting and signings happen, evaluations are made, and courses of action broken down and analyzed with a fine-tooth comb for how next season might be made better.

One of those changes within the Boston Celtics organization was in sports science, and the decision to modernize the program to reap the full benefits many competing teams are currently enjoying was made. That decision, however, like so many this offseason, was not made with sacrifices, nor pain. The decision, the full details of what it entails still unknown, put the team in a position where longtime staff would see a significantly diminished role, forcing employees to choose whether to accept such a role, or move on.


For Ed Lacerte, with three full decades and counting with the Celtics, it was time to go. Bryan Doo, who has been the team's strength coach for almost half that long at 14 years, the writing was also on the wall (via the Boston Herald's Steve Bulpett):

"The team was making some changes and looking at some new and different things, and I think it’s really good that they’re doing that ... but when I looked at what was going to be needed from me, I had to make some decisions. They gave me options, but when I looked at everything, I decided to make a clean break. I’ve got five little kids at home. I don’t want to miss them growing up, and I’ve already missed too many things. My wife’s been a single parent for a long time. And I don’t get to see my parents enough ... I love the Celtics, and I can’t tell you how much of a dream job this has been. I am so grateful to the team and all the great people I’ve worked with ... but then you start thinking about things. This seemed like the right decision."

Players will still be able to work with Doo as a private, non-team affiliated trainer, and many have decided to do exactly that. I won't lie, I am sad to see him and Ed go after all these years. They are both class acts and masters at their crafts, but hearing the move was a mutual decision geared towards progress makes me feel a lot better about things. It could just be the natural state of pessimism found in New Englanders, but when 44 years of experience walks out the door, you ought to be at least a little nervous, no?


So Danny, when do we get to see the new direction? Let's just say with the basketball schedule being as busy as it is, you've got our undivided attention.

For more stories about the offseason on CelticsLife, click here. For more by Justin, click here.



Follow Justin at @justinquinnn




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