Tom Nissalke
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| Tom Nissalke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Thomas Edward Nissalke ) July 7, 1932 Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Occupation | NCAA collegiate and NBA coach, sportscaster, sports executive |
| Years active | 1956-1985 as coach, 1993-94 as Commissioner, National Basketball League (Canada) 1985-2010, as Utah Jazz radio commentator |
| Spouse(s) | Nancy, 1960-2006 (her death) |
| Children | Thamas Jr., Cassidy Holly, with one grandchild, Caroline Anne |
| Awards | Coaching staff, 1971 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks 1971-72 ABA Coach Of The Year, Dallas Chapparals 1976-77 NBA Coach Of The Year, Houston Rockets |
Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke (born July 7, 1932 in Madison, Wisconsin) is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association. He has coached several teams in both leagues, and has an overall coaching record of 371-508.
Contents |
Coaching career
After a season with the then-Dallas Chapparals (where he won ABA coach of the Year), Nissalke moved to the NBA with the Sonics for one season. He returned to the team, now in San Antonio, in 1973, bringing with him a "a patterned, deliberate offense to San Antonio". During his tenure, the "Iceman" George Gervin had arrived from the Virginia Squires and was the center of the team. Though Nissalke's club was successful, he was fired in the beginning of the 1974-75 ABA season. Nissalke, who is a graduate of Florida State University, first got his start in coaching on the high school-prep level at the Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He would later work his way onto the college ranks at the University of Wisconsin & Tulane.
Early pro coaching career
Nissalke then would take his act to Utah with the ABA's Stars, but the club folded, surprisingly, midseason in the ABA's last hurrah in 1975-76. According to Remember the ABA, he has the final game ball in his closet.
Later coaching career
Nissalke later coached the then other existing Texas professional basketball team, the NBA's Houston Rockets (winning another Coach of the Year in the NBA in 76-77), followed by the Utah Jazz and Cleveland Cavaliers, retiring in 1985.
Nissalke holds the rare distinction of being named "Coach of the Year" in both the NBA and the ABA. He was also the commissioner of the short-lived National Basketball League in Canada in 1993-94.
Family life and personal
Nissalke presently works as a radio pregame and halftime analyst and talk-show host for the Utah Jazz on 1320 KFAN. In January 2006, his wife of 46 years, Nancy, who also was a native of Madison, Wisconsin, died, succumbing to cancer. Together they had two children, son Thomas Jr., and daughter Holly, as well as two granddaughters Caroline Anne and Isabelle Grace.
External links
- BasketballReference.com: Tom Nissalke
- World of Quotes: Tom Nissalke
- Article on Nissalke's wife
- Remember the ABA: San Antonio Spurs
| Preceded by Bill Blakely |
Dallas Chaparrals head coach 1971–1972 |
Succeeded by Babe McCarthy |
| Preceded by Lenny Wilkens |
Seattle SuperSonics head coach 1972–1973 |
Succeeded by Bucky Buckwalter (interim) |
| Preceded by Dave Brown (interim) |
San Antonio Spurs head coach 1973–1974 |
Succeeded by Bob Bass |
| Preceded by Bucky Buckwalter |
Utah Stars head coach 1975–1976 |
Succeeded by Team folded |
| Preceded by Johnny Egan |
Houston Rockets head coach 1976–1979 |
Succeeded by Del Harris |
| Preceded by Elgin Baylor |
Utah Jazz head coach 1979–1981 |
Succeeded by Frank Layden |
| Preceded by Bill Musselman (interim) |
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach 1982–1984 |
Succeeded by George Karl |
