19 Facts About Paul Westhead

Paul William Westhead was born on February 21,1939 and is an American retired basketball coach.

Paul Westhead was the head coach for three National Basketball Association teams and an assistant for four others, and coached in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, Women's National Basketball Association, American Basketball Association, and Japan Basketball League.

Paul Westhead started his coaching career at Cheltenham High School in suburban Philadelphia; in 1968, he coached the Panthers to a loss in the Pennsylvania state championship.

Paul Westhead coached the La Salle University men's basketball team starting in 1970 while teaching as a professor in the English Department.

Paul Westhead led the Explorers to one NIT and two NCAA tournament appearances in nine seasons.

Paul Westhead started his NBA head coaching career by succeeding Jack McKinney as coach of the Los Angeles Lakers after serving briefly as his assistant.

Paul Westhead was fired early in his third season with the Lakers, and replaced with Pat Riley.

Paul Westhead returned to the college ranks, and took over as the head coach of the Loyola Marymount Lions men's basketball program.

From 1985 to 1990, Paul Westhead oversaw an impressive run in which Loyola Marymount, despite being a smaller school and not a traditional NCAA basketball power, became a legitimate contender in NCAA hoops.

Paul Westhead lured star players like Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, who both transferred from USC, and Loyola Marymount set several NCAA records with their up-tempo, run-and-gun style.

Paul Westhead's teams led Division I in scoring in 1988,1989, and 1990.

From 1997 to 1999, Westhead was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors under head coach P J Carlesimo.

Paul Westhead was the head coach of the Panasonic Super Kangaroos of the Japan Basketball League from 2001 to 2003.

Paul Westhead returned to the ABA as the head coach of Long Beach Jam in 2003.

Paul Westhead coached the team for only one game before returning to the NBA.

From 2003 to 2005, Paul Westhead was an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic under head coach Johnny Davis.

In 2005, Paul Westhead was hired as the head coach of the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, a position that he held until the 2007 WNBA season concluded.

In 2007, Paul Westhead coached the Mercury to a WNBA championship, making him the only coach to win a championship in the NBA and the WNBA.

When Carlesimo was relieved of his duties on November 21,2008, Paul Westhead was released as an assistant at that time.