Cleveland Cavaliers Hire John Beilein As Coach: Report

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired John Beilein to be the team's next head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Beilein, 66, is a longtime college coach who has spent more than a decade at the University of Michigan. During his tenure with the Wolverines, the team has made two Final Four appearances and has consistently been ranked as one of the 25 best teams in the nation.

Beilein reportedly inked a five-year contract with the Cavaliers, ESPN reported. The appeal of aiding Cleveland's rebuild, along with the prospect of a high draft pick and roster flexibility, swayed Beilien into jumping to the NBA.

The University of Michigan thanked Beilein for his time with the team. In a post to Twitter, the university noted his many accomplishments as coach and bid him good luck in Cleveland.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been without a head coach since interim coach Larry Drew departed following the end of the regular season. Ty Lue was fired a few weeks into the season, then Drew was installed as the interim head coach following a dispute over his salary.

Reaction to the reported hiring was positive online. Fans said they liked Beilein's experience working with young players and his track record of success. The fact that Beilein's hiring will likely leave a dent in the University of Michigan's basketball program wasn't lost on Northeast Ohioans either.