Tom Nissalke
Encyclopedia
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.
(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.
'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.
'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.
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.
When asked one time in an interview how his name was pronounced, Nissalke famously replied, "Tom".
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
) is a retired former American professional basketball coach in the NBA and American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
. He has coached several teams in both leagues, and has an overall coaching record of 371-508.
Coaching career
After a season with the then-Dallas ChapparalsSan Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
(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
George Gervin
George "The Iceman" Gervin is a retired American professional basketball player who played in both the American Basketball Association and National Basketball Association for the Virginia Squires, San Antonio Spurs, and Chicago Bulls...
had arrived from the Virginia Squires
Virginia Squires
The Virginia Squires were a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association from 1970 until just before the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.-In Oakland :...
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
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, first got his start in coaching on the high school-prep level at the Wayland Academy
Wayland Academy
Wayland Academy is a private, coeducational college preparatory boarding high school located in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, USA. The student population at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year was 220...
in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 16,243 at the 2010 census, making it the second largest city in Dodge County, and the largest city fully located within the county. It is the principal city of the...
. 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 ABAAmerican Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's Stars
Utah Stars
The Utah Stars was an American Basketball Association team based in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.Under head coach Bill Sharman the Stars were the first major professional basketball team to use a pre-game shootaround.-History:...
, 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 NBANational 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...
's Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
(winning another Coach of the Year in the NBA in 76-77
1976-77 NBA season
The 1976–77 NBA season was the 31st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Portland Trail Blazers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
), followed by the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
and 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...
, 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
National Basketball League (Canada)
The National Basketball League that was based in Canada lasted only one and a half seasons in 1993 and 1994. It rose from the ashes of the World Basketball League which folded after the 1992 season, which had teams in various Canadian and American cities. The NBL's first game was played on May 1,...
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 JazzUtah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
on 1320 KFAN
KFNZ
KFNZ is a radio station broadcasting a Sports format. Licensed to Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, the station serves the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by the Larry H...
. In January 2006, his wife of 46 years, Nancy, who also was a native of Madison, Wisconsin, died, succumbing to cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. Together they had two children, son Thomas Jr., and daughter Holly, as well as two granddaughters Caroline Anne and Isabelle Grace.
When asked one time in an interview how his name was pronounced, Nissalke famously replied, "Tom".