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Steve Kerr, Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are facing a coaching search that nobody in the organization wanted but everybody could see coming. Steve Kerr‘s future remains officially undecided, but the belief around the league is that his 12-year tenure is coming to an end. Whoever replaces him inherits a complicated situation, a roster built around aging stars, significant financial constraints, and a fanbase that has been spoiled by championship basketball for a decade.

The names are already starting to surface. Here are five candidates worth watching.

1. Todd Golden

GettyHead Coach Todd Golden of the Florida Gators.

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor reported Monday that the Warriors would pursue Florida head coach Todd Golden if Kerr steps down. Golden guided the Gators to the 2025 national championship and carries a 160-77 record in four seasons at Gainesville.

The connection to Golden State runs deeper than just results. He has Bay Area roots, having played college basketball at Saint Mary’s in Moraga and coached at the University of San Francisco for several years before heading to Florida. He is also reportedly close with the Lacob family.

The obvious concern is experience. Golden has never coached at the NBA level, and delivering him to Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler as a first-time NBA head coach carries real risk. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne and Anthony Slater reported the Warriors have acknowledged the complications of that scenario. The San Francisco Giants hired Tony Vitello straight from the college ranks this past offseason, so the organization just up the street has already made that leap. Whether the Warriors follow suit remains to be seen.

2. Sam Cassell

GettyCeltics assistant Sam Cassell.

Sam Cassell has built one of the most respected resumes of any assistant coach in the league. A three-time champion as a player, he won his first championship ring as an assistant with the Boston Celtics during the 2023-24 season. Throughout his coaching career he has gotten strong performances out of the guards he has worked with, including Tyrese Maxey, Chris Paul, and John Wall.

The fit alongside Curry is worth noting. Cassell understands elite point guards at a fundamental level, having been one himself for 15 years. Walking into a locker room with Curry, Green, and Butler and commanding immediate respect would not be an issue.

3. Mike Budenholzer

GettyFormer Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Mike Budenholzer is the most decorated name on the market. The 11-year head coach has nine winning seasons on his resume and a championship with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. His last stop in Phoenix did not go well, but the track record before that speaks for itself.

The Giannis angle adds an intriguing layer. The Warriors have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo as a potential trade target this summer, and a Budenholzer hire could quietly align with that pursuit. If Golden State is serious about making a move, this could be the first domino.

4. Taylor Jenkins

GettyFormer Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins.

Taylor Jenkins was fired by the Memphis Grizzlies and immediately became one of the most coveted names available. With Michael Malone heading to the college ranks, Jenkins may be the top free agent coach on the market heading into this offseason.

His reputation for developing young talent makes him an interesting fit for a Warriors team that will need to blend veterans with younger players over the coming seasons. Jenkins would understand the challenge of managing a roster in transition, having done exactly that in Memphis during their rebuild years.

5. Terry Stotts

GettyFormer Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts.

Terry Stotts has been on the Warriors staff since 2024 and brings 13 seasons of NBA head coaching experience to the table. He guided the Portland Trail Blazers to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 and understands the demands of coaching at the highest level.

The continuity factor is significant. Stotts already knows the roster, the culture, and the organization. A transition to him would be the least disruptive option available and would give Curry and the veterans a familiar face in a period of significant change.

Final Word for the Warriors

GettyHead coach Steve Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors hug during the final moments of an NBA play-in tournament game against the Phoenix Suns.

Kerr has not made his decision official. Until he does, everything remains speculation. What is clear is that the Warriors are already thinking about what comes next, and the candidates above represent a range of directions the franchise could take.

Some point toward rebuilding around youth. Others signal a win-now push with a proven commodity. The direction Golden State chooses will say everything about what kind of team they intend to be when Curry takes the floor next season.