Posted Jun 7 2011 1:43PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Hornets head coach Monty Williams says assistant Mike Malone is leaving to join Mark Jackson's new staff with the Golden State Warriors.
Malone has spent one season with the Hornets, joining the club shortly after Williams was hired for his first head coaching job last year.
Before coming to New Orleans, Malone built a reputation as a top defensive coach with Cleveland, where he was then-head coach Mike Brown's defensive coordinator for the last two of his five seasons with the Cavaliers.
The Hornets improved substantially on defense last season, ranking fifth in points allowed at 94.04 per game, down from 102.7 a season earlier.
Malone also had been offered a position on Brown's new staff with the Los Angeles Lakers.
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