What is Monty Williams's Net Worth and Salary?
Monty Williams is an American professional basketball head coach and former professional basketball player who has a net worth of $25 million and salary of $12.5 million. Monty Williams is currently the head coach of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association. He has coached in the league since 2005.
In June 2023 he became the highest-paid coach in the NBA thanks to a six-year $78 million contract signed with the Detroit Pistons. Though a month later he lost the title of highest-paid coach in the NBA after the Spurs gave Gregg Popovich a five-year $80 million deal. In June 2024 Monty was fired from the Pistons. More on his contracts in the next section below.
Pistons Contract
In June 2023, Monty Williams and the Detroit Pistons agreed to the largest coaching deal in NBA history. The terms of the contract are a six-year deal worth $78.5 million. Options and incentives could push the deal to eight years and $100 million. This would pay him $12.5 million per year as the highest-paid coach in the league. Detroit heavily pursued Williams, the winningest head coach in the league since 2021, immediately after he was fired by the Phoenix Suns.
One month after Monty signed his contract to become the highest-paid coach in NBA history, a title he took from Gregg Popovich, Gregg Popovich took the title back when he signed a five-year, $80 million deal that pays an average of $16 million per year.
In June 2024 Monty was fired by the Pistons. At the time he was fired he had five years and $65 million left on his contract. The remaining money is fully guaranteed unless he gets a job somewhere else. Monty made $5.6 million per win in the one season he coached for the Pistons.
Early Life
Tavares Montgomery Williams was born on October 8, 1971, in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As a small forward, Williams played at the University of Notre Dame where he was an honorable mention All-American. His senior year, he averaged 22.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game.
Playing Career
Monty Williams was selected by the New York Knicks with the 24th overall pick in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft despite a pre-existing heart condition that kept him out two seasons at Notre Dame. He played nine years in the league total. Williams played for the Knicks until 1996 and then the San Antonio Spurs from 1996 to 1998, the Denver Nuggets in 1999, The Orlando Magic from 1999 to 2002, and the Philadelphia 76ers from 2002 to 2003. Chronic knee problems then forced him into retirement. Over his NBA career, he averaged 6.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game.
Coaching Career
Williams became assistant coach for the Portland Trail Blazers from 2005 to 2010 and got his first head coaching job with the New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans in 2010. In 2013, Williams became an assistant coach for USA Basketball under head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Williams led the Hornets to the playoffs in the 2010-11 season after finishing 3rd in the Southwest division. The following three seasons his team finished 5th in the Southwest and failed to make the playoffs. He was fired after five seasons with the organization after compiling a 173-221 regular season record and going 2-8 in the playoffs.
In May 2019, Williams was hired by the Phoenix Suns on a five-year deal. In 2020, he reunited with star point guard Chris Paul whom he coached back in 2011 when they were with the Hornets. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2022, and took home NBA Coach of the Year Honors in 2022. After leading his team to the Western Conference's best record through half the year, he was named the head coach of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game. The Suns finished the season with a franchise record number of wins with 64. But the Suns lost in the second round to the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference playoffs, and Williams was let go.
Monty Williams was swiftly signed to a deal to become the head coach of the Detroit Pistons.
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Personal Life
Monty Williams' wife, Ingrid, died from injuries suffered in a car crash in Oklahoma City after her vehicle was struck head-on by a car that lost control and crossed lanes. The couple had five children together.
