The Golden State Warriors promoted Nick Kerr — son of coach Steve Kerr — to head coach of the Santa Cruz Warriors, their G League affiliate. Here’s what you need to know:

• The younger Kerr, 30, spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the G League team and worked in video and player development with Golden State for three years before that. He replaces Seth Cooper, who was named director of player development for the organization alongside David Fatoki.
• The former University of San Diego and Cal player previously worked as a quality assurance assistant with the San Antonio Spurs.
• Golden State announced a number of other personnel moves Wednesday, including the hiring of NBA veteran Chuck Hayes as director of basketball operations.

Warriors announce basketball operations promotions & additions: pic.twitter.com/yAM7k5ckEE

— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) August 9, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

The Kerr coaching tree

Steve Kerr’s coaching tree already includes Luke Walton and Willie Green. Now his son is branching out. Nicholas, the eldest of three Kerr children, has stepped out of the shadows with this new gig. His new position as coach of the Sea Dubs gives him a pivotal role in the Warriors’ development process.

The main franchise has several players who could spend time with the G League team: rookies Brandin Podziemski and Trayce Jackson-Davis, third-year guard Lester Quiñones, and Santa Cruz stars Jerome Robinson and Gui Santos.

The Santa Cruz Warriors are working as an organizational feeder system and the head coaching gig has proven to be a stepping stone for young coaches. Seven of the Warriors’ eight G League coaches have gotten jobs as assistant coaches in the NBA. Six are current assistants.

That includes Kris Weems. He was also recently promoted to the front of the bench, filling the vacancy created by Jama Mahlalela, who took a job with the Toronto Raptors. Nate Bjokgren is the one Santa Cruz alumni to get a head coaching opportunity.

Nicholas’ predecessor in Santa Cruz, Seth Cooper, is now the Warriors’ director of player development along with David Fatoki, former Santa Cruz Warriors general manager.

The Warriors have a lot of family ties in the organization. Owner Joe Lacob’s youngest son, Kent, was also part of the recent promotions, named vice president of basketball development. Kirk Lacob, the eldest son, moved up unofficially with the departure of Bob Myers.

Lacob joins Mike Dunleavy, Myers’ replacement, as the top voices in the Warriors’ front office. Ryan Atkinson, another front office promotion, is also a Santa Cruz alum.

It stands to reason Nicholas could be on his dad’s bench in a couple of years if not on a bench somewhere else in the organization. He began his coaching career as a quality control assistant with the Spurs after finishing his college career at Cal.

In 2018, he was hired in the video room after playing his final season of eligibility with Cal men’s basketball. — Thompson

Backstory

Steve joined Golden State prior to the 2014-2015 season as a rookie head coach and led the team to the NBA title that year. The Warriors also won the 2017, 2018 and 2022 titles. He’s entering the final year of his contract.

“I’m under no illusions that I have a lifetime job here or something like that,” he said in May. “But I love what I do, and I hope to be coaching here for a long time. But you never know how things work out. So we’ll see.”

Required reading

• Inside a surprise reunion for Steve Kerr that served as a reminder of sorrow and growth

(Photo of Steve Kerr: Kirby Lee / USA Today)