INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- At one point during his lengthy introductory press conference Tuesday, new Cleveland Cavaliers head coach John Beilein -- with his proud family in attendance -- paused and pointed to the 13 banners hanging inside the spacious, state-of-the-art Cleveland Clinic Courts practice facility.

Seven Central Division Championship banners. Five Eastern Conference Championship banners. One that depicts the greatest moment in franchise history: the 2016 NBA title.

Those pieces of cloth serve as daily reminders. Of what used to be for the Cavs. Of the hard work and sacrifice it took. Of the best days when seasons didn’t wrap in April.

For Beilein, they’re also proof that digging out of the rubble is possible.

“Rebuild is not a word we’re going to use here, I saw it more as a renaissance,” he said. “Look at all those banners up there. It’s been done before. Why can’t it be done again?”

That’s what Beilein does. He’s built a career on leading programs out of the darkness. The 19-win Cavaliers become his latest rebuilding project. Pardon me, he doesn’t like the word rebuild. Let’s just say the Cavs represent Beilein’s newest challenge.

Like many of his other stops during an accomplished 40-year coaching career, Beilein isn’t taking over a program at its peak. Last year, the lede in another LeBron-less chapter started with playoff boasts and ended with 63 losses. It was one of the most miserable seasons in franchise history, as the Cavs finished with the league’s second-worst record.

In a way, this is eight-win Canisius all over again for Beilein. Or even Richmond, a program that went 13-15 in the season before his arrival. Or West Virginia, which was one of the worst teams in the Big East before he led the Mountaineers on two deep NCAA Tournament runs. Or Michigan, a dormant Big 10 power just waiting for Beilein’s magic touch.

“Every single time that we’ve decided to do this, some people would say with every job, and probably with this one, ‘What are you crazy? Why are you doing that?’ And I say exactly that, opportunity and challenges go hand in hand,” Beilein said. “So when we can be in these situations, it’s so gratifying turn a program.”

At a time when others are fleeing, Beilein felt a tug.

He was reeled in by general manager Koby Altman and assistant GM Mike Gansey, who starred at West Virginia during Beilein’s tenure. The courtship quickly escalated from a meeting in Ann Arbor to Gilbert sitting in Beilein’s kitchen, ready to finalize a five-year contract, which ended a lengthy coaching search that included at least 10 candidates.

Beilein was drawn to Cleveland’s young nucleus, admitting that played a role in his decision. About an hour before going on stage, Beilein ripped off his suit jacket and started working two of those core members. Beilein rebounded for Larry Nance Jr. and gave him a few tips -- all while wearing a dress shirt and slacks. Nance, who is coming off a career year and has high expectations for his second full season in Cleveland, lives in Akron and is constantly at the facility working on his game. But this was his initial in-person meeting with his new coach, and it was a memorable one, a sign of things to come. Shortly after, Beilein spoke with young point guard Collin Sexton, who had arrived from the Philippines around 6 a.m., eager to get back into the gym.

“I left the greatest university in the world, a place that was special to Kathleen and I and our entire family to come to some place that I think is equally as special,” Beiein said. “I see a lot of the potential and the high, high ceiling with the Cavs organization that I saw at the university of Michigan, that we saw at West Virginia, that we saw at Richmond, Canisius, LeMoyne, all the way back to community college and Newfane Central.

“I love the young roster. I love the draft picks and the potential we have for flexibility now and in the future. I texted Kathleen and we were interviewing a potential candidate at the combine and I just texted her, “I love this.’ I love being a part of this. It’s a dream come true to be able to have a position like this.”

Beilein has only been in downtown Cleveland three times, seeing the city at its best and worst. He was about 10 years old when he sat in the right field stands to watch Rocky Colavito and Al Kaline with the Indians -- the first baseball game he ever attended. That was also the first time Beilein had stayed at a hotel. He coached West Virginia past Chris Paul’s Wake Forest team at Cleveland State in 2009. More than a year later, he was back in Cleveland. That was July 8, 2010 -- the night LeBron went from hero to villain, announcing his stunning decision to join the Miami Heat. In town for the LeBron James Skills Academy, Beilein watched the made-for-TV special at the Residence Inn bar, seeing Clevelanders angrily storm out.

“I thought the streets would go on fire for a second there,” Beilein said.

The embers eventually cooled, aided by James’ homecoming in 2014. He’s gone now, once again taking a large chunk of the city’s hope for basketball success with him.

Beilein represents that. It’s his job to breathe new life into this organization. It has already starter. When others frowned after the Cavs dropped to No. 5 in the 2019 NBA Draft one week ago, Beilein grinned, tapped Altman and talked about the potential of working with another talented player, grooming him the way he did so many others at the college level.

If the Cavs are going find success, they need to establish a new culture, one built on integrity, commitment and joy, with player development at the core. They can’t simply bank on lottery luck or a savior coming in free agency.

It’s time for their renaissance. Who better to lead it? Beilein is a basketball savant. He believes his innovative offense and team-first, family-oriented principles will translate to the NBA. The Cavs do as well.

“He’s all the things you would want in a head coach,” Gilbert said.

The 66-year-old Beilein met with Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic last off-season before both teams went in different directions. When he started to contemplate making the leap to the NBA, he turned to many for guidance, including Boston head coach Brad Stevens and Oklahoma City’s Billy Donovan -- two guys who have had success going straight from college to the pros. Beilein also spoke with a few of his former players. Brooklyn Nets swingman, Caris LeVert -- the picture of Beilein’s player development skills, going from outside the top 200 in recruiting to a first-round pick -- signed off.

“Caris said, ‘What you do will work. You’ve just got to make sure you’ve got the right people on that team that will play unselfishly,'" Beilein said, recalling that conversation. "He told me about some franchises that maybe wouldn’t be good for me. He very much knows this franchise is where I would want to be.

“I look at it and this is me, this is Kathleen, this is going to be our new home.”

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