Former head coach Dave Joerger joins Sixers staff as defensive specialist

Doc Rivers got his defensive specialist.

Former NBA head coach Dave Joerger agreed Thursday to join Rivers’ coaching staff with the 76ers, a league source confirmed. Another source said Rivers pursued Joerger in part because of his solid defensive mindset.

The hiring comes after Joerger interviewed for the Indiana Pacers' head-coaching job. Rivers was hired by the Sixers on Oct. 1 after a seven-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Clippers assistant Sam Cassell is another candidate to join Rivers' staff in Philadelphia.

Meanwhile, two former Sixers assistants have landed with other teams. Kevin Young accepted a job with the Phoenix Suns last week. Joseph Blair took a position with the Minnesota Timberwolves, according to sources.

Joerger, 46, had head-coaching stints with the Sacramento Kings and Memphis Grizzlies, compiling a 245-247 record in six seasons.

He went to Memphis an as assistant coach before the start of the 2007-08 season. He was promoted to top assistant under then-head coach Lionel Hollins after four seasons. Joerger was credited with helping the Grizzlies defense, which led the league in steals and forced turnovers during the 2010-11 campaign.

He was elevated to Grizzlies head coach after Hollins, a former Sixers player, was granted permission to look for another head-coaching job following a successful 2012-13 season. The Grizzlies had posted a 56-16 regular-season mark before being swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference finals.

Joerger led the Grizzlies to regular-season records of 50-32 and 55-27 in his first two seasons in Memphis. His team went 42-40 and got swept in the first round of the playoffs in his final season with the Grizzlies.

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The coach struggled during three seasons in Sacramento, going 98-148.