College - Georgia Southern
When Joe Dumars hired Michael Curry as the 26th head coach in franchise history on June 10, 2008, he knew that he was hiring a coach that understands the culture Detroit Basketball. It is rare that a player on a 10-day contract makes an impression with veteran teammates, but in 1995, Curry made an immediate impression on Dumars.

"Most players who come in on a 10-day just want to survive," recalls Dumars. "Michael was different - he came in talking and had opinions and I thought 'Ok, this guy's got some leadership skills. He'll be out of here in 10 days, but he's got some leadership skills.'"

He stuck around a lot longer than Dumars and most people expected - 11 NBA seasons as a player, four years as NBA Players Association President, a two-year appointment as an NBA executive, an assistant coach for the Pistons and now - head coach.

Curry's leadership, toughness and tireless work ethic has earned him this opportunity, but it is his understanding of the organization and its expectations as well as his competitive drive that gives Dumars comfort in his ability to return this team to its roots - a team that goes to work and plays with passion - every night.

Curry, 39, has spent 14 years in the NBA as a player, assistant coach and NBA administrator. Six of those 14 years were spent as a member of the Pistons' organization. He was an assistant coach for the Pistons last year after serving as NBA Development League's Vice President of Player Development (2005-06) and NBA Vice President of Basketball Operations (2006-07).

He played in the NBA for 11 seasons, including two stints with Detroit (1995-97 and 1999-2003), where he was widely respected for his leadership and knowledge of the game. In all, he compiled career averages of 4.5 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 667 NBA games with Philadelphia, Washington, Detroit, Milwaukee, Toronto and Indiana and appeared in 36 career playoff games. Curry played a major role in Detroit’s turnaround during the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons under Rick Carlisle. The Pistons won the Central Division both years with 50-32 records, advanced to the second round of the NBA Playoffs in 2001-02 and the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002-03.

Curry's leadership qualities were on display during the NBA lockout of 1999. Despite not being an officer in the NBA Players' Association, he proved instrumental in helping ratify a new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players. His focus and ability to unify the players during that crucial time translated further into a two-year executive vice president role within the union and ultimately a four-year reign as the union's president. During those six years leading the NBA Players' Association, player salaries climbed to record levels across the board.

Following four years at Georgia Southern and prior to joining the NBA ranks, he played in Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain, as well as in the United States Basketball League (1992), Global Basketball League and in the Continental Basketball Association (1992-93 and 1995-96). While playing for the Pistons during the 2000-01 season, Curry completed a Master's degree in sports management from Virginia Commonwealth University which was presented in May 2001.

The Augusta, GA native, who worked on the grounds crew at The Masters golf tournament while in high school, resides in Oakland County with his wife, Katrina and their four children, Xavier (a senior at Michigan State and member of the football team), Ashley (a junior at the University of Georgia), Michael Jr. and Crysten.