Rasheed Wallace retired as an NBA player less than three months ago, but he couldn’t stay away from the game for long, as he’s returning to an old team, but in a new capacity.

According to ESPN.com, the Detroit Pistons have hired Wallace as an assistant on new head coach Maurice Cheeks‘ staff. Wallace has agreed to a two-year contract and began his coaching career this week, joining Cheeks on the Pistons’ bench for the team’s summer league tournament.

It may have been odd for fans to see Wallace in a coaching role, but it certainly wasn’t odd for them to see him back with the Pistons – a team that he won his one and only NBA championship with in 2004.

Of course, Wallace is also familiar with Cheeks, whom he played under as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Not only do the two have a good rapport with one another, but Cheeks respects Wallace’s track record of success and basketball IQ.

“He’s going to bring a lot of knowledge of how to help our young guys play on the block, because he’s been around the league for, like, forever,” Cheeks said Monday. “With him having played that position for such a long time, I know he’s going to be a great asset to what we’re building.”

The players also seem to have an appreciation and respect for Wallace, who was always known as a vocal leader during his playing days.

“Obviously, he’s had a lot of success in this league and he can teach you a lot about the game,” said center Greg Monroe. “He’s one of those guys who talks. He knows how to use his voice. I watched him when I was growing up, when he was in his prime. His experience and his knowledge is definitely going to help us out.”

The biggest concern that comes to mind surrounding the hire is Wallace’s well-known volatile relationship with league officials. As a player, Wallace routinely led the NBA in technical fouls, ending his career with 317 in all. However, Wallace insists he will be much more able to keep his emotions in check as a coach.

“I’m not expending the energy out there, running back and forth, [telling referees], ‘I’m out here busting my [tail] and you’re not giving me a call,'” Wallace said. “Being over there on the sideline, you try to be more of a motivational inspiration for the kids.”

While his changed attitude remains to be seen, Cheeks is confident that Wallace will make a smooth transition from NBA player to coach.

“He can make that transition,” Cheeks said. “A lot of us, we didn’t start out being a certain way we are right now. But change evolves you, and he’s evolved. He realizes he’s in the second phase of his life now. And now he’s a coach. He has to make that transition, and I think he’ll be fine.”

What do you think of Detroit’s latest coaching hire? Let us know in the comments and in our Detroit Pistons forum thread!