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18 Facts About Tom Nissalke

1.

Thomas Edward Nissalke was an American professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association.

2.

Thomas Edward Tom Nissalke was born on July 7,1932, in Madison, Wisconsin.

3.

Tom Nissalke attended Florida State University from 1953 to 1954, took a break, and resumed from 1956 to 1957.

4.

Tom Nissalke started his coaching career at Wayland Academy as the varsity boys basketball coach when he was hired by Ray Patterson, his former coach.

5.

Tom Nissalke went on to the college ranks, thus advancing his career.

6.

Tom Nissalke then became an assistant at Tulane University from 1963 to 1968.

7.

Tom Nissalke was an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA from 1968 to 1971.

8.

On May 26,1971, Tom Nissalke was announced as the new head coach of the Dallas Chaparrals of the American Basketball Association.

9.

Tom Nissalke got permission from management to speak with the Sonics, who later hired him.

10.

Tom Nissalke moved to the NBA with the Sonics for one season.

11.

Tom Nissalke succeeded Johnny Egan as Houston Rockets head coach on April 20,1976.

12.

Tom Nissalke was the first coach of the newly-christened Utah Jazz from 1979 to 1982.

13.

Tom Nissalke was an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets from 1990 to 1991.

14.

Tom Nissalke then coached the Winnipeg Thunder of the World Basketball League from 1991 to 1992.

15.

Tom Nissalke closed out his career as an assistant for the Denver Nuggets from 1994 to 1995.

16.

Tom Nissalke holds the rare distinction of being named "Coach of the Year" in both the NBA and the ABA.

17.

Tom Nissalke made it out of the first round of the playoffs just once, in 1977.

18.

Tom Nissalke served as a radio analyst for Jazz games.