SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Mark Jackson was every bit the bold and boisterous personality on his first day as coach of the Golden State Warriors that he was as a player and a broadcast analyst.
Only time will tell if he can be equally successful.
Declaring that “the Bay Area will never be the same,” Jackson promised sweeping changes to the perennially underachieving franchise when he was introduced by the Warriors on Friday at a swanky San Francisco hotel across the bay from where the team plays in Oakland.
Jackson said the Warriors will go from a 36-46 team last season to the playoffs next year. He teared up when speaking about the opportunity to be a first-time coach and fired back at critics who question his lack of experience on the bench.
