American basketball coach (1932?2019)
Thomas Edward Nissalke
(July 7, 1932 ? August 22, 2019) was an American professional basketball coach in the
National Basketball Association
and
American Basketball Association
. He coached several teams in both leagues, and had an overall coaching record of 371?508.
Early life
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Thomas Edward Nissalke was born on July 7, 1932, in
Madison, Wisconsin
.
College career
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Nissalke attended Florida State University from 1953 to 1954, took a break, and resumed from 1956 to 1957.
Coaching career
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Wayland Academy (1957?1962)
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Nissalke started his coaching career at
Wayland Academy
as the varsity boys basketball coach when he was hired by
Ray Patterson
, his former coach.
In 1957?58, his team finished with an overall record of 6?12 and a Conference record of 5?9.
In 1958?59, his team finished with an overall record of 13?5.
In 1959?60, his team finished with an overall record of 9?9.
In 1960?61, his team finished with an overall record of 12?5 and a Conference record of 12?2, thus ending the season as conference champions.
In 1961?62, his team finished with an overall record of 9?10.
Nissalke coached there from 1957 until 1962. He went on to the college ranks, thus advancing his career. He finished with an overall record of 49?41 at Wayland.
Wisconsin (1962?1963)
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Nissalke was an assistant coach at the
University of Wisconsin?Madison
from 1962 to 1963.
Tulane (1963?1968)
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Nissalke was an assistant coach at
Tulane University
from 1963 to 1968.
Milwaukee Bucks (1968?1971)
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Nissalke was an assistant coach with the
Milwaukee Bucks
from 1968 to 1971.
Dallas Chaparrals (1971?1972)
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Nissalke coached the
Dallas Chaparrals
of the
American Basketball Association
from 1971 to 1972, where he won the
ABA Coach of the Year Award
.
Seattle SuperSonics (1972?1973)
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Nissalke moved to the NBA with the Sonics for one season.
San Antonio Spurs (1973?1974)
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Nissalke returned to the team, now in San Antonio, in 1973, bringing with him "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
.
Utah Stars (1974?1976)
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Nissalke then went to Utah with the
ABA
's
Stars
, but the club folded, surprisingly, at mid-season in the ABA's last hurrah in 1975?76. According to
Remember the ABA
, he has the final game ball in his closet.
Puerto Rico (1976)
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Nissalke was the coach of
Puerto Rico
at the
1976 Summer Olympics
in
Montreal
, finishing in 9th place with a 2?5 record. Nissalke's squad came close to upsetting the
United States
, losing by a 94?93 score.
Houston Rockets (1976?1979)
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Nissalke succeeded
Johnny Egan
as
Houston Rockets
head coach on April 20, 1976.
[1]
He won the
NBA Coach of the Year Award
for the
76?77
.
Utah Jazz (1979?1982)
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Nissalke coached the
Utah Jazz
from 1979 to 1982.
Cleveland Cavaliers (1982?1984)
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Nissalke coached the
Cleveland Cavaliers
from 1982 to 1984.
Jacksonville Jets (1986?1987)
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Nissalke coached the
Jacksonville Jets
from 1986 to 1987.
Charlotte Hornets (1990?1991)
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Nissalke was an assistant coach with the
Charlotte Hornets
from 1990 to 1991.
Winnipeg Thunder (1991?1992)
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Nissalke coached the
Winnipeg Thunder
of the
World Basketball League
from 1991 to 1992.
Denver Nuggets (1994?1995)
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Nissalke was an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets from 1994 to 1995.
Legacy
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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. He had a combined coaching record of 371?508 (248?391 in NBA and 123?117 in ABA), with an 11?20 playoff record. He went 105?91 with the Chaparrals/Spurs, 13?32 with the Sonics, 18?26 with the Utah Stars, 124?122 with the Rockets, 60?124 with the Jazz, and 51?113 with the Cavaliers. He made it out of the first round of the playoffs just once, in 1977.
Post-coaching career
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After his coaching career, Nissalke took on revamping the YMCA of Utah and served as Chairman of the Board and later interim CEO. The YMCA had its most successful fundraising campaigns during his tenure.
Head coaching record
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Legend
Regular season
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G
|
Games coached
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W
|
Games won
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L
|
Games lost
|
W?L %
|
Win?loss %
|
Playoffs
|
PG
|
Playoff games
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PW
|
Playoff wins
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PL
|
Playoff losses
|
PW?L %
|
Playoff win?loss %
|
Personal life
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Nissalke's entrepreneurial activities included developing and owning several health clubs throughout Texas in addition to co-owning a successful bar and restaurant, Green Street in Salt Lake City, Utah for over twenty years.
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 and two granddaughters.
On August 22, 2019, Nissalke died at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah.
[2]
References
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External links
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Preceded by
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Utah Stars
head coach
1975?1976
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Succeeded by
Team folded
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# denotes interim head coach
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# denotes interim head coach
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# denotes interim head coach
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# denotes interim head coach
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