Former NBA player Josh Smith to join the Boston Celtics as head coach

Josh Smith will become the first active NBA player to join Boston’s coaching staff, the Celtics announced Monday.

Smith will be assisted by assistant head coach Al Horford.

The move comes as the Celtics are preparing to take on the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the playoffs, which opens March 16.

Smith, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, has spent the past two seasons coaching the Celtics’ youth-focused program, which includes basketball clinics and camps for children with special needs.

He helped them reach the NBA finals in 2017 and 2018.

The Boston Celtics selected Horford with the No-Pick protected first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft.

He is coming off a 2017 season in which he led the team to the league’s best record and reached the NBA Finals in six of the past seven seasons.

He has also spent time coaching high school basketball and helping his alma mater, Providence College, win the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament in the past.

The Celtics had the second pick in last year’s draft.