New Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr has hired Alvin Gentry as his associate head coach, agent Warren LeGarie told Yahoo Sports.

Gentry, who spent last season on Doc Rivers' staff with the Los Angeles Clippers, has agreed in principle to a three-year deal with the Warriors, a source said. The Warriors had to come close to doubling Gentry's salary with the Clippers to convince him to leave a similar position with their Pacific Division rival, a source said. Gentry previously worked under Kerr, a former Phoenix Suns executive, in Phoenix and is the first addition to Kerr's staff.

Gentry is credited for running a Clippers offense that averaged 108.8 points last season. He has a combined 335-370 record as head coach of the Suns and Clippers and as interim head coach with the Detroit Pistons and Miami Heat. Gentry also interviewed for head-coaching jobs with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz this offseason and still has hopes of being a NBA head coach again.

Kerr was the Suns' president of basketball operations from 2007-10. Gentry was an assistant head coach for the Suns from 2003-09 and head coach from 2009-13. Gentry and Kerr have remained close since their Phoenix days.

Rivers now has two assistant coach openings on his staff after Gentry's departure and Kevin Eastman's promotion to the Clippers' front office. The Clippers are considering hiring former NBA head coaches Mike Woodson and Lawrence Frank, who coached under Rivers with the Boston Celtics, for their openings, a source said. Rivers was supportive of Gentry's decision to go to Golden State, sources said.

Clippers assistant coach Tyronn Lue is expected to return to Rivers' staff. He was a finalist for the Cavs' head-coaching job before Cleveland offered the position to David Blatt, Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported. Blatt was also a candidate for the Warriors' associate head coach opening, along with former NBA coach Lionel Hollins.

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