Mike Fratello
Encyclopedia
Michael Robert "Mike" Fratello (born February 24, 1947) is an American color analyst
and a professional basketball
coach. He previously coached the Atlanta Hawks
, Cleveland Cavaliers
, and Memphis Grizzlies
of the NBA
, and is currently the head coach of the Ukraine national basketball team
.
, and he graduated from Hackensack High School
, where he was captain of the basketball, baseball, football and field hockey teams. He was named to the Bergen
"All County" Football team as a center in his senior year. He then went on to Montclair State College
in Montclair, New Jersey
to play football. Upon graduation he returned to Hackensack H.S. as an assistant for both the basketball and football teams. Fratello then went on to the University of Rhode Island
as a graduate assistant assigned to head coach Tom Carmody, also coaching the U.R.I. freshman basketball team. He had been a college basketball assistant at James Madison University
under Lou Campanelli
and served as an assistant for Rollie Massimino
at Villanova
before going to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
during Hubie Brown
's tenure.
Prior to working with the Grizzlies, Fratello had coached the Cleveland Cavaliers
and the Atlanta Hawks
. In his six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers his record was 248 wins and 212 losses. Fratello took the Cavaliers to the playoffs four times. Fratello coached the Hawks for seven seasons and posted a 324–250 record, making the post-season playoffs five times and winning the Central Division in 1987 with 57 wins. Fratello was named Coach of the Year for the 1985–86 NBA season. His NBA career stats are 667 wins and 542 losses for a .551 average. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in eleven of his 16 seasons as a head coach.
One of the most respected basketball minds despite having never won an NBA championship as a head coach, Fratello ranks 19th on the NBA's all-time win list and 21st in games coached.
On February 24, 2011, Fratello was officially announced as the Ukraine national basketball team head coach and on March 3, 2011, he was introduced to the Ukrainian media at a press-conference in Kyiv.
and is currently a main color commentator
of TNT
, working once again with long time play-by-play announcer Marv Albert
, who first paired up with Fratello in the 1990–91 NBA season as the main announcing team for the NBA on NBC. Starting with the 2008–09 NBA season Fratello also began working with Marv Albert doing New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network. Fratello was hired after the unexpected resignation of former color analyst Mark Jackson from the network. Fratello will also be paired with Ian Eagle on select Nets games.
During his stint as a color commentator, Marv Albert
dubbed him "The Czar of the Telestrator
" for his masterful way of diagramming
basketball plays on screen.
rehired Fratello as a full-time commentator, allowing him to work once again with long time play-by-play announcer Marv Albert
, who first paired up with Fratello in the 1990–91 season as the main announcing team for the NBA on NBC. Reggie Miller
, who had split time between TNT's studio and the booth the past two years, also became a full-time game analyst, joining Albert and Fratello on the sidelines.
He is currently part of a 3-man booth with his YES counterpart Marv Albert and Steve Kerr.
, Fratello has worked with Marv Albert on New Jersey Nets
games on the YES Network
. Fratello was hired after the unexpected resignation of former color analyst Mark Jackson
from the network. Fratello has also been paired with Ian Eagle
on select Nets games.
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
and a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach. He previously coached the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, and Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, and is currently the head coach of the Ukraine national basketball team
Ukraine national basketball team
The Ukrainian national basketball team is the national basketball team of Ukraine. The team participates at FIBA Europe competitions. It's been less successful then other teams that resulted from the division of Soviet Union. Their best result to date was the 13th place at EuroBasket, in 1997...
.
Background
Fratello was born in Hackensack, New JerseyHackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, and he graduated from Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School
Hackensack High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Hackensack, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Hackensack Public Schools...
, where he was captain of the basketball, baseball, football and field hockey teams. He was named to the Bergen
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
"All County" Football team as a center in his senior year. He then went on to Montclair State College
Montclair State University
Montclair State University is a public research university located in the Upper Montclair section of Montclair, the Great Notch area of Little Falls, and Clifton, New Jersey. As of October 2009, there were 18,171 total enrolled students: 14,139 undergraduate students and 4,032 graduate students...
in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
to play football. Upon graduation he returned to Hackensack H.S. as an assistant for both the basketball and football teams. Fratello then went on to the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
as a graduate assistant assigned to head coach Tom Carmody, also coaching the U.R.I. freshman basketball team. He had been a college basketball assistant at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
under Lou Campanelli
Lou Campanelli
Lou Campanelli is an American basketball coach. He served as head coach at University of California, Berkeley from 1986 to 1993.Campanelli played a significant role in Pac-10 men's basketball, having served as head basketball coach at California for eight years from 1985-93. He compiled a record of...
and served as an assistant for Rollie Massimino
Rollie Massimino
Roland V. "Rollie" Massimino is an American basketball coach and former player. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at the Florida campus of Northwood University in West Palm Beach, a position he has held since 2006...
at Villanova
Villanova
Villanova may refer to:In botany:*Villanova, a genus of plants in the family Phyllanthaceae, an invalid name replaced by Flueggea, or bushweed*Villanova , a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae.In education:*St...
before going to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
during Hubie Brown
Hubie Brown
Hubert Jude "Hubie" Brown is a retired American basketball coach and a current television analyst. Brown is a two-time NBA Coach of the Year, the honors being separated by 26 years...
's tenure.
Coaching
Fratello was head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies from December 2004 to December 2006. In his first season he inherited a 5–11 team that he turned around to win 45 games and advance to the playoffs. Fratello built on that record the following year to win 49 games and return to the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Before departing in December 2006, his record was 6–24 taking his overall record with Memphis to 95–87.Prior to working with the Grizzlies, Fratello had coached the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
and the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. In his six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers his record was 248 wins and 212 losses. Fratello took the Cavaliers to the playoffs four times. Fratello coached the Hawks for seven seasons and posted a 324–250 record, making the post-season playoffs five times and winning the Central Division in 1987 with 57 wins. Fratello was named Coach of the Year for the 1985–86 NBA season. His NBA career stats are 667 wins and 542 losses for a .551 average. His teams have qualified for the playoffs in eleven of his 16 seasons as a head coach.
One of the most respected basketball minds despite having never won an NBA championship as a head coach, Fratello ranks 19th on the NBA's all-time win list and 21st in games coached.
On February 24, 2011, Fratello was officially announced as the Ukraine national basketball team head coach and on March 3, 2011, he was introduced to the Ukrainian media at a press-conference in Kyiv.
NBC/TNT
Fratello has been a television commentator for NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and is currently a main color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
of TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
, working once again with long time play-by-play announcer Marv Albert
Marv Albert
Marv Albert is an American television and radio sportscaster. Honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he is commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball." From 1967–2004, he was also known as "the voice of the New York Knicks."Including Super Bowl XLII, Marv has called...
, who first paired up with Fratello in the 1990–91 NBA season as the main announcing team for the NBA on NBC. Starting with the 2008–09 NBA season Fratello also began working with Marv Albert doing New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network. Fratello was hired after the unexpected resignation of former color analyst Mark Jackson from the network. Fratello will also be paired with Ian Eagle on select Nets games.
During his stint as a color commentator, Marv Albert
Marv Albert
Marv Albert is an American television and radio sportscaster. Honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he is commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball." From 1967–2004, he was also known as "the voice of the New York Knicks."Including Super Bowl XLII, Marv has called...
dubbed him "The Czar of the Telestrator
Telestrator
A telestrator is a device that allows its operator to draw a freehand sketch over a moving or still video image. The telestrator is most famously recognized in sports and weather broadcasts to diagram and analyze sports plays or incoming weather patterns. The talent typically draws on a...
" for his masterful way of diagramming
Diagram
A diagram is a two-dimensional geometric symbolic representation of information according to some visualization technique. Sometimes, the technique uses a three-dimensional visualization which is then projected onto the two-dimensional surface...
basketball plays on screen.
Return to TNT
For the 2007–08 season, TNTTurner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
rehired Fratello as a full-time commentator, allowing him to work once again with long time play-by-play announcer Marv Albert
Marv Albert
Marv Albert is an American television and radio sportscaster. Honored for his work as a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame, he is commonly referred to as "the voice of basketball." From 1967–2004, he was also known as "the voice of the New York Knicks."Including Super Bowl XLII, Marv has called...
, who first paired up with Fratello in the 1990–91 season as the main announcing team for the NBA on NBC. Reggie Miller
Reggie Miller
Reginald Wayne "Reggie" Miller is a retired American professional basketball player who played his entire 18-year National Basketball Association career with the Indiana Pacers...
, who had split time between TNT's studio and the booth the past two years, also became a full-time game analyst, joining Albert and Fratello on the sidelines.
He is currently part of a 3-man booth with his YES counterpart Marv Albert and Steve Kerr.
With the YES Network
Since the 2008–09 season2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
, Fratello has worked with Marv Albert on New Jersey Nets
New Jersey Nets
The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
games on the YES Network
YES Network
The Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network is a New York City-based, regional cable television channel; it broadcasts a variety of sports events, with an emphasis on New York Yankees baseball games, and New Jersey Nets basketball games. YES made its debut on March 19, 2002...
. Fratello was hired after the unexpected resignation of former color analyst Mark Jackson
Mark Jackson (basketball)
Mark A. Jackson is a retired American professional basketball player and the current head coach of the Golden State Warriors. He played point guard for the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, and Houston Rockets in the NBA in a career...
from the network. Fratello has also been paired with Ian Eagle
Ian Eagle
Ian Eagle is an American sports announcer calling National Football League games on CBS, New Jersey Nets games on the YES Network and hosts Full Court Press, a basketball talk show with former player Kenny Smith on Sirius Satellite Radio...
on select Nets games.
Career record
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win–Loss %| Franchise | Season | W | L | % | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:... |
1983–84 | 40 | 42 | .488 | 2–3 record |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1984–85 | 34 | 48 | .415 | |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1985–86 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 4–5 record |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1986–87 | 57 | 25 | .695 | 4–5 record |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1987–88 | 50 | 32 | .610 | 6–6 record |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1988–89 | 52 | 30 | .634 | 2–3 record |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1989–90 | 41 | 41 | .500 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team... |
1993–94 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 0–3 record |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1994–95 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 1–3 record |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1995–96 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 0–3 record |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1996–97 | 42 | 40 | .512 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1997–98 | 47 | 35 | .573 | 1–3 record |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1998–99 | 22 | 28 | .440 | |
| Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's... |
2004–05 | 40 | 30 | .571 | 0–4 record |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2005–06 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 0–4 record |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 2006–07 | 6 | 24 | .200 | |
| Totals | 667 | 552 | .547 | ||
| Playoffs | 20 | 42 | .323 | ||