Steve Kerr 'thrilled' to return as Warriors coach but says 'I have to be better'

SAN FRANCISCO — Steve Kerr wanted to make one thing abundantly clear as he began the news conference to announce the two-year contract extension he agreed to earlier this week to remain the Golden State Warriors’ head coach. The smile on his face and the ease with which he walked into the room high atop Chase Center Friday afternoon spoke just as much as the words that came out of his mouth. “I’m thrilled to be back,” Kerr said. “I couldn’t be more excited to continue on this job.” The 60-year-old Kerr acknowledged what has been well-documented since he shared a hug with stalwarts Steph Curry and Draymond Green at the end of the Warriors’ season-ending Play-In Tournament loss to the Phoenix Suns on April 17: There was a chance his run with the Warriors had ended. While Kerr had many conversations with Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy over the last few weeks, he said his wife, Margot, ultimately made him realize he didn’t want to leave what he had built. “She said you might coach again someday but you’ll never coach the Warriors again,” Kerr said. “And that was really meaningful to me, because I love this team, I love our players, and that struck me. You know, I couldn’t imagine walking away from the Warriors. At that point it was really, you know, what do (Lacob and Dunleavy) want to do? We had great meetings. Over the course of about a week, we all agreed, let’s do it.” While Kerr remains happy to continue coaching Curry, he also was critical of his own performance during the Warriors’ 37-45 season. “I know I have to be better,” Kerr said. “I didn’t have a great coaching year this year. I know there are a lot of things I can do better.”