32 Facts About Brian Goorjian

Brian Warwick Goorjian was born on 28 July 1953 and is an American-Australian professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach of the Sydney Kings of the National Basketball League.

Brian Goorjian previously served as the head coach of the Australia men's national basketball team from 2001 to 2008 and again from 2020 to 2024.

In 2009, Brian Goorjian became the head coach of the Dongguan Leopards of the Chinese Basketball Association and stayed with the team for six seasons.

Brian Goorjian served as an assistant coach for the Guangdong Southern Tigers from 2015 to 2016 and as a special advisor to the Shanghai Sharks from 2016 to 2018.

Brian Goorjian returned to coaching duties when he joined the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in 2018 as an assistant coach for one season.

Brian Goorjian was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.

Brian Goorjian was born in Glendale, California, and is of Armenian descent.

Brian Goorjian played on the basketball team at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, California, and was coached by his father, Ed.

Brian Goorjian first arrived in Australia in 1977 to play for the Melbourne Tigers under head coach Lindsay Gaze.

Brian Goorjian served as the inaugural captain of the Tigers in their first National Basketball League season in 1984.

Brian Goorjian served as the inaugural head coach of the Ballarat Miners in the South East Australian Basketball League in 1986.

Brian Goorjian went on to guide the Miners to the SEABL South Conference championship in 1987.

The Spectres merged with the Southern Melbourne Saints during the 1992 offseason to form the South East Melbourne Magic with Brian Goorjian named as the new Magic coach.

Brian Goorjian won the first of his six championships in 1992 against the Melbourne Tigers and was named the Lindsay Gaze Coach of the Year.

Brian Goorjian lost another two Grand Finals in his first two seasons as coach for the Titans.

Brian Goorjian led the Kings to three consecutive NBL championships from 2003 to 2005.

Brian Goorjian coached Sydney to five Grand Final series in six years, despite being forced to constantly re-build the team after each season.

Brian Goorjian won his sixth Coach of the Year award with the Dragons in 2009.

The Dragons folded at the end of the season despite their title win, prompting Brian Goorjian to seek a position overseas.

Brian Goorjian served as the head coach of the Dongguan Leopards in the CBA from 2009 to 2015.

Brian Goorjian became associate coach of the Guangdong Southern Tigers in 2015.

Brian Goorjian served as special advisor of the Shanghai Sharks between 2016 and 2018.

Brian Goorjian elected to not take up his third-year option with the Hawks in May 2022, instead moving to the role of special advisor for basketball operations.

Brian Goorjian coached his 850th NBL game in January 2025.

In late 2001, Brian Goorjian was appointed head coach of the Australia men's national basketball team, becoming the first foreign-born coach in the team's history.

Brian Goorjian guided the Boomers to Olympic campaigns in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008, a World Cup in 2006 and a gold Commonwealth Games medal in Melbourne in the same year.

Brian Goorjian stepped down as head coach following the 2024 Summer Olympics.

In one of the notable statistics in sport, Brian Goorjian-coached teams finished no worse than the semi-finals every year from 1990 to 2009.

Brian Goorjian has coached teams to a record 12 grand finals and won 'Coach of the Year' on six occasions.

Brian Goorjian is known for his intense coaching style.

Brian Goorjian said he sat down for his first six games in 1988, which he lost, and has stood during games ever since.

On October 10,2013, Brian Goorjian was named the coach of the Sydney Kings 25th Anniversary Team.