Tom Nissalke
| Tom Nissalke | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Thomas Edward Nissalke July 7, 1932 Madison, Wisconsin |
| Occupation | NCAA collegiate and NBA coach, sportscaster, sports executive |
| Years active |
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| Spouse(s) | Nancy Nissalke – 1960–2006 (her death) |
| Children | Thomas Nissalke II, Holly, with two grandchildren, Caroline Anne and Bella Grace |
| Awards |
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Thomas Edward "Tom" Nissalke (born July 7, 1932) 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.
After a season with the then-Dallas Chaparrals (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 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 later worked his way onto the college ranks at the University of Wisconsin and Tulane.
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.
Nissalke later coached the then other existing Texas professional basketball team, the NBA'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.
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