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ShareBrown Named 2003 USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Head Coach
Brown's quotes | Sixers player reaction |
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (November 26, 2002) -- Naismith Basketball Hall of
Fame member and Philadelphia 76ers head coach Larry Brown was announced
today as head coach of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team that
will participate in the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Brown's selection was made by the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team
Committee and approved by USA Basketball's Executive Committee.
Brown will guide the USA Basketball team during the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will take place in August on dates and at a site to be determined by FIBA America. The USA men, basketball gold medalists in 12 of 14 Olympic Games including the last three (1992, 1996, 2000), must earn a qualifying spot for the 2004 Olympic Games. A total of 10 men's teams from North, South and Central America will participate in the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and only the top three finishers will earn a coveted qualification spot for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Aug. 13-29.
If the United States earns one of the Americas' three Olympic qualifying berths, the coaching staff and the core group of eight-to-nine top NBA players who are part of USA Basketball's qualifying team this summer are then expected to compose the nucleus of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
"I look at this as an unbelievable honor, one that I don't take lightly," said Brown. "I understand how many great coaches there are out there who are deserving of this opportunity, and I feel so honored to be chosen. I will do my very best to represent USA Basketball and the NBA. This is what makes coaching worthwhile."
"Larry Brown is clearly among basketball's most successful and respected coaches. His playing and coaching experience at the collegiate, international and professional levels demonstrate his unique and distinguished career. His contributions to the game and achievements at all levels make him the ideal coach to lead the United States' international basketball efforts through the 2004 Summer Olympic Games," remarked Tom Jernstedt, President of USA Basketball.
"Larry Brown is a terrific choice to lead USA Basketball at next summer's qualification tournament and ultimately to the 2004 Olympic Games," said Stu Jackson, Chair of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee. "Among the NBA's top coaches, Larry has the most international coaching experience. He has the utmost respect from our players, the selection committee and his peers in the coaching community. We look forward to working with Larry during the next two years to bring the gold medal for men's basketball back to the USA."
Brown has served on no fewer than five USA Basketball coaching staffs and he is in fact the only U.S. male to both play and coach in the Olympics. Most recently he assisted Rudy Tomjanovich and the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team to an 8-0 record and the gold medal in Sydney, Australia. After Tomjanovich became ill and was unable to coach in the summer of 1999, Brown, just days prior to the start of training camp, was appointed head coach of the 1999 USA Basketball Americas Olympic Qualifying Team. He promptly led the Americans to a 10-0 record and the gold medal in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and most importantly, claimed one of the Americas zone's two Olympic qualifying spots.
Brown also served as head coach of the 1987 USA Junior World Championship Team that finished 5-2 and earned the silver medal in Bormio, Italy, and was head coach of the 1985 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team that finished 3-1 and won the gold medal. Named an assistant coach for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, Brown's Olympic coaching experience was never realized as the United States' boycotted the ‘80 Moscow Summer Games.
Inducted in 2002 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall, Brown's resume includes three ABA Coach of the Year awards, the 2001 NBA Coach of the Year honor, a trip to the 2001 NBA Finals and a 1988 NCAA championship.
Brown has posted a winning record in 26 of his 30 seasons as a professional
head coach or collegiate head coach and has compiled a 1,248-823 (.603
winning percentage) career record (through Nov. 25, 2002). Early into his
20th season in the NBA, he has an 842-654 (.563 winning percentage) record
(through Nov. 25, 2002) as a head mentor. He entered the 2002-03 season
needing 34 victories to pass Jack Ramsay (864) and move into seventh
position on the NBA's list of all-time wins for a head coach.
Hired on May 5, 1997, as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, now in his sixth season in the City of Brotherly Love, he has amassed (through Nov. 25, 2002) a record of 218-175 (.555 winning percentage). Leading the Sixers to the NBA Playoffs the past four years, in 1998-99 he guided Philadelphia to their first winning season since 1990-91 as well as to the NBA Playoffs, becoming the first coach in NBA history to guide six different franchises to the playoffs. Recording a milestone season in 2000-01, Brown's Sixers recorded its best year in nearly two decades. Brown led the 76ers to 56 wins (56-26), the most for the franchise since 1984-85, and led Philadelphia to the Atlantic Division crown for the first time since 1989-90 and to the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Brown's 76ers made a trip to the NBA Finals, the first such accomplishments in his then 18 years as an NBA coach.
He was the Eastern Conference head coach in the 2001 All-Star Game and guided the East All-Stars to a come-from-behind win. In the NBA, he has finished first in his division six times (1976-77 and 1977-78 with Denver; 1989-90 and 1990-91 with San Antonio; 1994-95 with Indiana; and 2000-01 with Philadelphia).
Prior to joining the Sixers, the 62-year-old Brown spent four seasons (1993-94 to 1996-97) as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and compiled a record of 190-138 (.579 winning percentage). The Pacers' all-time winningest NBA coach, he took the team to the playoffs three times, including the Eastern Conference Finals twice. Before joining Indiana, Brown was the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets, who he helped transition from the ABA to the NBA in 1976-77. He took the Spurs to the postseason twice (1990 and 1991), the Clippers twice (1992 and 1993), the Nets once (1983) and the Nuggets twice (1977, 1978).
Making his head coaching debut with the ABA Carolina team in 1972-73 in his four seasons as the ABA Carolina and Denver head coach he compiled a regular season record of 229-107 (.682 winning percentage) and was selected as the ABA Coach of the Year three times (1973, 1975 and 1976).
Directing UCLA for two seasons and the University of Kansas for five years, Brown compiled a 177-61 (.744 winning percentage) record collegiately. Head coach of the UCLA Bruins from 1979-80 to 1980-81, Brown directed the Bruins to a two-year mark of 42-17 (.712 winning percentage), which included an appearance in the 1980 NCAA Tournament championship game and an NCAA Tournament appearance the following year. At Kansas from 1983-84 to 1987-88, he rolled up a mark of 135-44 (.754 winning percentage), made five NCAA Tournaments, and captured the 1988 NCAA championship and made another Final Four appearance in 1986.
Brown was a standout member of the University of North Carolina varsity
team for three seasons (1960-61 to 1962-63) and accumulated 661 points for
an 11.8 points per game average during his UNC career. Named to the 1964
USA Olympic men's basketball team, Brown averaged 4.1 ppg. and helped lead
the American team to a 9-0 record and to the gold medal in Tokyo, Japan.
Brown went on to play five seasons in the ABA and was a member of the 1969 ABA championship Oakland team. A three-time ABA All-Star who was the Most Valuable Player of the 1968 ABA All-Star Game, Brown averaged 11.2 ppg., 6.7 apg. and 2.7 rpg. over the course of his ABA regular season career.
A total of 10 men's teams from North, South and Central America will participate in the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and only the top three finishers will earn a qualification spot for the 2004 Olympics.
The FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament will feature teams playing 10 games in 11 days. The United States and Canada have already qualified for the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament as the North America representatives. The tournament's remaining eight teams will include four teams qualifying from Central America and four teams qualifying from South America. The 2003 Central America Championship will feature eight teams and will be held on dates to be determined in June or July at a site to be determined. The South America Championship will include 10 teams and will be held July 21-27, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
USA Basketball on November 19 released an overview of its plans for the 2003 USA Basketball Senior Team. Among its plans, USA Basketball announced that the 2003 Senior National Team will consist of a core group of eight-to-nine top NBA players, who if the U.S. qualifies, will also represent the United States at the 2004 Olympics. The U.S. team's remaining three-to-four roster positions will be filled by role players who could come from professional leagues here in the U.S. and abroad, from the U.S. college ranks, or other USA Basketball constituents. The role players will be selected for just the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Team, although, their participation on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, should the U.S. qualify, would still be a possibility but not guaranteed.
Brown's coaching staff will consist of three assistant coaches, one who is also an NBA head coach, and two additional assistant coaches who are collegiate head coaches. Like the core group of players, the selected coaches will commit to coaching at both the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and if the U.S. qualifies, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee, the 10-member committee responsible for the selection of USA Basketball Men's Senior National teams for the Olympics, Olympic Qualifier and World Championship competitions, is chaired by Jackson (Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations, NBA), and the remainder of the Committee is formed by six members appointed by the NBA, one appointee from the NCAA, and two athlete representatives. Steve Smith (2000 Olympic gold medalist and 1994 World Championship gold medalist / San Antonio Spurs player) and Joe Dumars (1994 World Championship gold medalist / President of Basketball Operations, Detroit Pistons) are the two athlete representatives; NBA appointees include Bryan Colangelo (President and General Manager, Phoenix Suns), USA Basketball Treasurer Billy King (General Manager, Philadelphia 76ers), Mitch Kupchak (General Manager, Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin O'Conner (Vice President of Basketball Operations, Utah Jazz), Garry St. Jean (General Manager, Golden State Warriors) and Rod Thorn (President, New Jersey Nets); while the NCAA representative is C.M. Newton (1992-96 USA Basketball President / former University of Kentucky Director of Athletics).
Larry Brown's Coaching Record
Brown has served on no fewer than five USA Basketball coaching staffs, most recently as an assistant of the 2000 US Olympic Team . Jesse D Garrabrant NBAE/Getty Images |
Brown will guide the USA Basketball team during the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which will take place in August on dates and at a site to be determined by FIBA America. The USA men, basketball gold medalists in 12 of 14 Olympic Games including the last three (1992, 1996, 2000), must earn a qualifying spot for the 2004 Olympic Games. A total of 10 men's teams from North, South and Central America will participate in the FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and only the top three finishers will earn a coveted qualification spot for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Aug. 13-29.
If the United States earns one of the Americas' three Olympic qualifying berths, the coaching staff and the core group of eight-to-nine top NBA players who are part of USA Basketball's qualifying team this summer are then expected to compose the nucleus of the 2004 U.S. Olympic Men's Basketball Team subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.
"I look at this as an unbelievable honor, one that I don't take lightly," said Brown. "I understand how many great coaches there are out there who are deserving of this opportunity, and I feel so honored to be chosen. I will do my very best to represent USA Basketball and the NBA. This is what makes coaching worthwhile."
"Larry Brown is clearly among basketball's most successful and respected coaches. His playing and coaching experience at the collegiate, international and professional levels demonstrate his unique and distinguished career. His contributions to the game and achievements at all levels make him the ideal coach to lead the United States' international basketball efforts through the 2004 Summer Olympic Games," remarked Tom Jernstedt, President of USA Basketball.
"Larry Brown is a terrific choice to lead USA Basketball at next summer's qualification tournament and ultimately to the 2004 Olympic Games," said Stu Jackson, Chair of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee. "Among the NBA's top coaches, Larry has the most international coaching experience. He has the utmost respect from our players, the selection committee and his peers in the coaching community. We look forward to working with Larry during the next two years to bring the gold medal for men's basketball back to the USA."
Brown has served on no fewer than five USA Basketball coaching staffs and he is in fact the only U.S. male to both play and coach in the Olympics. Most recently he assisted Rudy Tomjanovich and the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team to an 8-0 record and the gold medal in Sydney, Australia. After Tomjanovich became ill and was unable to coach in the summer of 1999, Brown, just days prior to the start of training camp, was appointed head coach of the 1999 USA Basketball Americas Olympic Qualifying Team. He promptly led the Americans to a 10-0 record and the gold medal in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and most importantly, claimed one of the Americas zone's two Olympic qualifying spots.
Brown also served as head coach of the 1987 USA Junior World Championship Team that finished 5-2 and earned the silver medal in Bormio, Italy, and was head coach of the 1985 U.S. Olympic Festival North Team that finished 3-1 and won the gold medal. Named an assistant coach for the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team, Brown's Olympic coaching experience was never realized as the United States' boycotted the ‘80 Moscow Summer Games.
Inducted in 2002 into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall, Brown's resume includes three ABA Coach of the Year awards, the 2001 NBA Coach of the Year honor, a trip to the 2001 NBA Finals and a 1988 NCAA championship.
Brown was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on September 27, 2002. Andrew D Bernstein NBAE/Getty Images |
Hired on May 5, 1997, as head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, now in his sixth season in the City of Brotherly Love, he has amassed (through Nov. 25, 2002) a record of 218-175 (.555 winning percentage). Leading the Sixers to the NBA Playoffs the past four years, in 1998-99 he guided Philadelphia to their first winning season since 1990-91 as well as to the NBA Playoffs, becoming the first coach in NBA history to guide six different franchises to the playoffs. Recording a milestone season in 2000-01, Brown's Sixers recorded its best year in nearly two decades. Brown led the 76ers to 56 wins (56-26), the most for the franchise since 1984-85, and led Philadelphia to the Atlantic Division crown for the first time since 1989-90 and to the top spot in the Eastern Conference. Brown's 76ers made a trip to the NBA Finals, the first such accomplishments in his then 18 years as an NBA coach.
He was the Eastern Conference head coach in the 2001 All-Star Game and guided the East All-Stars to a come-from-behind win. In the NBA, he has finished first in his division six times (1976-77 and 1977-78 with Denver; 1989-90 and 1990-91 with San Antonio; 1994-95 with Indiana; and 2000-01 with Philadelphia).
Prior to joining the Sixers, the 62-year-old Brown spent four seasons (1993-94 to 1996-97) as head coach of the Indiana Pacers and compiled a record of 190-138 (.579 winning percentage). The Pacers' all-time winningest NBA coach, he took the team to the playoffs three times, including the Eastern Conference Finals twice. Before joining Indiana, Brown was the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets, who he helped transition from the ABA to the NBA in 1976-77. He took the Spurs to the postseason twice (1990 and 1991), the Clippers twice (1992 and 1993), the Nets once (1983) and the Nuggets twice (1977, 1978).
Making his head coaching debut with the ABA Carolina team in 1972-73 in his four seasons as the ABA Carolina and Denver head coach he compiled a regular season record of 229-107 (.682 winning percentage) and was selected as the ABA Coach of the Year three times (1973, 1975 and 1976).
Directing UCLA for two seasons and the University of Kansas for five years, Brown compiled a 177-61 (.744 winning percentage) record collegiately. Head coach of the UCLA Bruins from 1979-80 to 1980-81, Brown directed the Bruins to a two-year mark of 42-17 (.712 winning percentage), which included an appearance in the 1980 NCAA Tournament championship game and an NCAA Tournament appearance the following year. At Kansas from 1983-84 to 1987-88, he rolled up a mark of 135-44 (.754 winning percentage), made five NCAA Tournaments, and captured the 1988 NCAA championship and made another Final Four appearance in 1986.
| “ |
I understand how many great coaches there are out there who are deserving of this opportunity, and I feel so honored to be chosen.” — Larry Brown |
Brown went on to play five seasons in the ABA and was a member of the 1969 ABA championship Oakland team. A three-time ABA All-Star who was the Most Valuable Player of the 1968 ABA All-Star Game, Brown averaged 11.2 ppg., 6.7 apg. and 2.7 rpg. over the course of his ABA regular season career.
A total of 10 men's teams from North, South and Central America will participate in the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament and only the top three finishers will earn a qualification spot for the 2004 Olympics.
The FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament will feature teams playing 10 games in 11 days. The United States and Canada have already qualified for the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament as the North America representatives. The tournament's remaining eight teams will include four teams qualifying from Central America and four teams qualifying from South America. The 2003 Central America Championship will feature eight teams and will be held on dates to be determined in June or July at a site to be determined. The South America Championship will include 10 teams and will be held July 21-27, in Montevideo, Uruguay.
USA Basketball on November 19 released an overview of its plans for the 2003 USA Basketball Senior Team. Among its plans, USA Basketball announced that the 2003 Senior National Team will consist of a core group of eight-to-nine top NBA players, who if the U.S. qualifies, will also represent the United States at the 2004 Olympics. The U.S. team's remaining three-to-four roster positions will be filled by role players who could come from professional leagues here in the U.S. and abroad, from the U.S. college ranks, or other USA Basketball constituents. The role players will be selected for just the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Team, although, their participation on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team, should the U.S. qualify, would still be a possibility but not guaranteed.
Brown's coaching staff will consist of three assistant coaches, one who is also an NBA head coach, and two additional assistant coaches who are collegiate head coaches. Like the core group of players, the selected coaches will commit to coaching at both the 2003 FIBA Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and if the U.S. qualifies, the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
The USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team Committee, the 10-member committee responsible for the selection of USA Basketball Men's Senior National teams for the Olympics, Olympic Qualifier and World Championship competitions, is chaired by Jackson (Senior Vice President, Basketball Operations, NBA), and the remainder of the Committee is formed by six members appointed by the NBA, one appointee from the NCAA, and two athlete representatives. Steve Smith (2000 Olympic gold medalist and 1994 World Championship gold medalist / San Antonio Spurs player) and Joe Dumars (1994 World Championship gold medalist / President of Basketball Operations, Detroit Pistons) are the two athlete representatives; NBA appointees include Bryan Colangelo (President and General Manager, Phoenix Suns), USA Basketball Treasurer Billy King (General Manager, Philadelphia 76ers), Mitch Kupchak (General Manager, Los Angeles Lakers), Kevin O'Conner (Vice President of Basketball Operations, Utah Jazz), Garry St. Jean (General Manager, Golden State Warriors) and Rod Thorn (President, New Jersey Nets); while the NCAA representative is C.M. Newton (1992-96 USA Basketball President / former University of Kentucky Director of Athletics).
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| Year | Team/Position | Record/Medal |
| 2000 | U.S. Olympic Team Assistant Coach | 8-0 / Gold Medal |
| 1999 | USA Americas Olympic Qualifying Team Head Coach | 10-0 / Gold Medal |
| 1987 | USA Junior World Championship Team Head Coach | 5-2 / Silver Medal |
| 1985 | U.S. Olympic Festival North Team Head Coach | 3-1 / Gold Medal |
| 1980 | U.S. Olympic Team Assistant Coach | U.S. Did Not Compete |
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| Year | Team |
Regular Season Record / Pct |
Postseason Record / Pct |
Posteseason | ||
| *2002-03 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 11- 4 / .733 | ||||
| 2001-02 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 43-39 / .524 | 2- 3 / .400 | Eastern Conference First Round | ||
| 2000-01 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 56-26 / .683 | 12- 11 / .522 | NBA Finals | ||
| 1999-00 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 49-33 / .598 | 5- 5 / .500 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | ||
| 1998-99 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 28-22 / .560 | 3- 5 / .375 | Eastern Conference Semifinals | ||
| 1997-98 | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) | 31-51 / .378 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Indiana Pacers (NBA) | 39-43 / .476 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Indiana Pacers (NBA) | 52-30 / .634 | 2- 3 / .400 | Eastern Conference First Round | ||
| 1994-95 | Indiana Pacers (NBA) | 52-30 / .634 | 10- 7 / .588 | Eastern Conference Finals | ||
| 1993-94 | Indiana Pacers (NBA) | 47-35 / .573 | 10- 6 / .625 | Eastern Conference Finals | ||
| 1992-93 | Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) | 41-41 / .500 | 2- 3 / .400 | Western Conference First Round | ||
| 1991-92 | Los Angeles Clippers (NBA) | 23-12 / .657 | 2- 3 / .400 | Western Conference First Round | ||
| 1991-92 | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) | 21-17 / .553 | ||||
| 1990-91 | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) | 55-27 / .671 | 1- 3 / .250 | Western Conference First Round | ||
| 1989-90 | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) | 56-26 / .683 | 6- 4 / .600 | Western Conference Semifinals | ||
| 1988-89 | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) | 21-61 / .256 | ||||
| 1987-88 | University of Kansas (NCAA) | 27-11 / .711 | 6- 0 1.000 | NCAA Champions | ||
| 1986-87 | University of Kansas (NCAA) | 25-11 / .694 | 2- 1 / .667 | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||
| 1985-86 | University of Kansas (NCAA) | 35- 4 / .897 | 4- 1 / .800 | NCAA Final Four | ||
| 1984-85 | University of Kansas (NCAA) | 26- 8 / .765 | 1- 1 / .500 | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 1983-84 | University of Kansas (NCAA) | 22-10 / .688 | 1- 1 / .500 | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 1983-84 | New Jersey Nets (NBA) | 47-29 / .618 | ||||
| 1981-82 | New Jersey Nets (NBA) | 44-38 / .537 | 0- 2 .000 | Eastern Conference First Round | ||
| 1980-81 | UCLA (NCAA) | 20- 7 / .741 | 0- 1 / .000 | NCAA Second Round | ||
| 1979-80 | UCLA (NCAA) | 22-10 / .688 | 5- 1 / .833 | NCAA Championship Game | ||
| 1978-79 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) | 28-25 / .528 | ||||
| 1977-78 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) | 48-34 / .585 | 6- 7 / .462 | Western Conference Finals | ||
| 1976-77 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) | 50-32 / .610 | 2- 4 / .333 | Western Conference Finals | ||
| 1975-76 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) | 60-24 / .714 | 6- 7 / .462 | ABA Finals | ||
| 1974-75 | Denver Nuggets (NBA) | 65-19 / .774 | 7- 6 / .538 | Western Division Finals | ||
| 1973-74 | Carolina Cougars (ABA) | 47-37 / .560 | 0- 4 / .000 | Eastern Division Semifinals | ||
| 1972-73 | Carolina Cougars (ABA) | 57-27 / .679 | 7- 5 / .583 | Eastern Division Finals | ||
| Totals | 31 Seasons | 1,248-823 / .603 | 102-94 / .520 | |||
| NBA Totals | 20 Seasons | 842-654 / .563 | 63-66 / .488 | |||
| ABA Totals | 4 Seasons | 229-107 / .682 | 20-22 / .476 | |||
| Collegiate Totals | 7 Seasons | 177- 61 / .744 | 19- 6 / .760 | |||
| *Record through November 25, 2002 | ||||||
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