John Beilein tells why he's leaving Cavaliers: 'I find losing very challenging'

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – John Beilein stood in front of the Cavaliers and emotionally explained why he's leaving. This was goodbye.

But even on his way out, he gave his players one last lesson. He showed them honesty, dignity and vulnerability, forward Kevin Love said. He admitted the losing had beaten him.

Beilein said he couldn't go on.

"It took a real man to do that today," Love said. "Everybody you talk to will say they respected the hell out of him."

One of college basketball's most successful coaches over the past two decades, Beilein didn't make it through one NBA season. He resigned Wednesday after just 54 games and a 14-40 record.

"This was a very difficult decision for me, but I want to be clear — this was my decision to step down," Beilein said in a statement released by the team. "I find losing very challenging and this year has taken a much bigger toll on me than I expected. I grew concerned for the consequences this toll could potentially take on my own health and my family's well-being down the road.

"I was not certain I could be at my best for the remainder of the season and in the future."

"For him to do come in and do that and look us all in the eye, and acknowledge that integrity and willingness, that's big," Love said. "I respect him for coming in and doing that because he didn't have to."

Associate head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who played for the Gophers, was an assistant coach for the Timberwolves and has had two NBA head-coaching jobs, was promoted to head coach. It's not an interim appointment.