Steve Kerr signed a two-year contract extension to remain head coach of the Golden State Warriors as he approaches his 13th season with the team, the Warriors announced on May 16, 2026 [1, 2, 3].
The Golden State Warriors completed the 2025-26 regular season with a 37-45 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in several years, marking a significant setback for the franchise [4, 1, 3]. General manager Mike Dunleavy called the season "deeply disappointing," noting the team averaged 15.7 turnovers per game, a critical weakness contributing to their struggles [4].
Kerr acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, including an aging core and key injuries. "We were too lax," he said. "With the core aging and injury issues, we spent too much time managing rest. Next season, I have to restore discipline," he added [4].
Following internal deliberations after the disappointing season in the 2025 offseason, Kerr considered retirement but ultimately was persuaded to stay after conversations with his wife and Warriors owner Joe Lacob. Kerr emphasized his passion for coaching Golden State. "I still love my work. If I was tired or burned out, I wouldn't do this. I love coaching the Warriors and living in this city," he said [1, 2, 3].
Stephen Curry has publicly supported Kerr’s retention and has refrained from interfering with organizational decisions, reinforcing alignment between players and management on Kerr’s continued leadership [4, 2]. Kerr also expressed the importance of the Warriors’ unique culture, saying, "You know, if you leave, you can coach elsewhere, but you can't coach the Warriors again. That means the most to me." [2]
The Warriors plan to address turnover issues and inject young talent into the lineup next season. Kerr intends to utilize youth and rookie players more heavily to bring fresh energy and help reverse the team’s fortunes [4]. Despite the struggles, the ownership and management share Kerr’s vision of contending rather than rebuilding [4, 1, 3].
On May 15, Kerr and GM Mike Dunleavy held a press conference to discuss the tough season and outline future plans before the extension was finalized the following day [4, 1, 2, 3]. The Warriors enter their next campaign hoping renewed discipline and a blend of experience with young talent will return the team to playoff contention.
