Cavs hire former Cal coach Lindsay Gottlieb as assistant

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired former California coach Lindsay Gottlieb as an assistant on John Beilein’s staff.

Gottlieb spent the past eight years coaching the Golden Bears, leading them to seven NCAA Tournament appearances. While she’s not the first female assistant coach in the NBA, she is the first to go from being a head college coach to the pro league.

Gottlieb went 179-89 at Cal and led the school to its first Final Four in 2013.

Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman says Gottlieb will “be a great addition” for Beilein, who is taking over a young Cleveland team. Altman says Gottlieb “brings a depth of basketball knowledge, leadership, perspective and approach to her craft that will fit very well with our team and staff alike.”

The Cavaliers hired Beilein last month following his 12-year stint at Michigan, where he was the school’s winningest coach.