Earl Watson agrees to 3-year deal to become Suns' head coach

The Phoenix Suns have removed the interim tag from Earl Watson's title and made him the franchise's next head coach. Watson will reportedly sign a three-year deal with the the Suns, The Verticals' Adrian Wojnarowski reports, citing league sources.

Watson was promoted to interim head coach in February, following the dismissal of Jeff Hornacek, going 9-24 in 33 games. While Watson's winning percentage was roughly the same as Hornacek's, the Suns improved upon their 28th-ranked defense under the 36-year-old.

"Earl did a very good job with our team last season after taking over as interim head coach during a challenging time for the organization," Suns general manager Ryan McDonough said Tuesday. "Earl’s natural leadership qualities and his ability to connect with and motivate our players have stood out throughout his time here in Phoenix. We are excited to see what he can do with a healthy roster after having a full offseason to prepare."

After retiring from the NBA in 2014, Watson has quickly made his way up the coaching ranks, serving as an assistant under Hornacek in 2015-16 prior to his promotion.

Golden State Warriors assistant Luke Walton and Philadelphia 76ers assistant Mike D'Antoni were reportedly both considered candidates for the position.