All Time Great Minor League Coaches

[mzracing76]

1) Mauro Panaggio - This Has Coached teams in Rochester, NY (Zeniths); Rockford Lightning, Quad City Thunder, and Bay State. Every where he has been, he has been a winner. Over 15 years in the CBA, he has won more games than any other coach in the history of Minor League Basketball. 451 wins.

2) Bill Musselman - He coached the Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers, Albany Patroons, and Rochester (MN) Renegades. He is the only coach to win 4 straight titles (1985-88). Three with the Thrillers, and one with the Patroons.

3) George Karl - He coahed off and on in the CBA in between stints in the NBA. He currently holds the CBA's all time Season wins record with the 50-6 1990-91 season with Albany.

4) Flip Saunders - Coached 7 years in the CBA (1988-94) with such teams like Rapid City, Lacrosse, and Sioux Falls. Won Two CBA Titles, and Two Coach of the year awards.

5) Eric Musselman - Coach of the Rapid City Thrillers/Florida Beachdogs Franchise. Great Player Personal Director. Always was able to get his teams to win with any type of players. Great motivator. Took teams to the CBA Finals in 1990, 1992, 1997. Never won a title though.

6) Dan Panaggio - Took over the Quad City Thunder when his dad retired the first time in 1991. Never had a losing record in the CBA (1991-1999). Won two titles (1994 & 1998), and stands #2 in the CBA's Win List, 313. 138 wins away from the top spot (Mauro Panaggio, 451). Now the Head Coach of the LA D-Fenders.

7) Sonny Allen - His one season in the CBA (1989-90), he took the expansion Santa Barbara Islanders to the Playoffs, where they lost in the Conference Finals. His team averaged 131.8 ppg and gave up a league high 122.3 ppg. He built one of the best offenses in league history.

8) Mike Thibault - Led the Omaha Racers from 1989-1997. taking them to 2 CBA Finals (1993 & 1994) beating the Grand Rapids Hoops 4-2 in 1993 and losing to the Thunder in '94. Has won 243 games in the CBA. Currently coaching the WBNA's Connecticut team.

9) Mo McHone - Has coached in the CBA from 1991-1999. Came back to Sioux Falls in 2006 with the NBDL. Has Coached the Birmingham Bandits (1991-92), Fort Wayne Fury (1992-93), Yakima Sun Kings (1993-95), and Sioux Falls (1995-99, 2006-07). Took his teams to the CBA Finals Four Times (1995, 1996, 1998, 1999) winning two of them back to back in 1995 & 1996). Known for having a great offensive minded coach.

10) Cazzie Russell - Great coach on bad teams. Mostly known for his playing days with the Houston Rockets. Russell won more than 200 games from 1988-1996. Best coach to never have a winning record.

other notables:
11-Dave Joeger, Dakota Wizards, Sioux Falls Skyforce
12-Corey Russell, San Jose Jammers
13-John Treloar, Wichita Falls Texans
14-Calvin Duncan, Tri City Chinook
15-Phil Jackson, Albany Patroons (should be higher, but only coached 4 years)
16-Henry Bibby, Tulsa Fast Breakers (1989 Champions)
17-Bill Klucas
18-Joe Mullaney, Pensacola Tornadoes
19-Herb Brown
20-Bruce Stewart, Grand Rapids Hoops

[DakotaWizardsFan]

10) Cazzie Russell - Great coach on bad teams. Mostly known for his playing days with the Houston Rockets. Russell won more than 200 games from 1988-1996. Best coach to never have a winning record.

other notables:
11-Dave Joeger, Dakota Wizards, Sioux Falls Skyforce

Good list as far as I know. I've only paid attention to minor league basketball for about 7 years now (that's how long I've been a Wizards fan), but I didn't get into it very much until last year or the year before.

My only problem is this Cazzie Russell, who never had a winning record, making the top 10 over Joerger. He's been the most dominant minor league coach the last few years in my opinion.

[USBasket_EricE]

Now there should be a list of coaches from the new millenium (2000-present) and not from the 1980s-1990s. I really don't have much knowledge on this type of topic, but here are a few noteables (not in any order, but there's a reason Joerger is on top).

Dave Joerger - Four minor league championships, never had a losing record, need I say more?
Paul Woolpert - Three championships, all with Yakima/Yakama Sun Kings of CBA. Coached Sioux Falls to a decent record in 2001-2002. Got the Sun Kings back to their winning ways after two straight years in the crapper (took a year, but still impressive).
Chris Daleo - Always got the Rockford Lightning of the CBA to the Play-offs, even though they didn't win a championship. Barely missed the stupid play-off cut (top team in divisions compete for title) in the CBA this past season with Minot.
Russ Bergman - Has more history from the 1990s, winning one CBA title with OKC Cavalry in 1996-97 and then coached Great Lakes Storm to their best record in franchise history in 2004-2005 - named Coach of the Year.
Joey Meyer - Coached Asheville Altitude (the current Tulsa 66ers) to NBDL titles in 2004 and 2005.
Michael Cooper - Coached LA Sparks to WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002, 2000 WNBA Coach of the Year, coached ABQ T-Birds to 2005-2006 D-League title.
Larry Krystkowiak - Not really a familiar name in minor leagues, but made a huge improvement to the Idaho Stampede in 2003-2004, coaching them to a 34-14 record in reg. season, but lost CBA championship. Currently the head coach of Milwaukee Bucks.
Rory White - Might not remember him, but coached FM-Beez to CBA play-offs in 2001-2002, but lost. Spent the next season as coach of the Idaho Stampede, but it was a losing season. Next season he was hired by the LA Clippers as an assistant.

Well, that's 8. I'm not going to take the time to go through leagues like the USBL or ABA. Other names I've thought of include Bill Bayno, Dale Osbourne, and Jaren Jackson, but if anyone wants to know more about them, Google their names.

[DakotaWizardsFan]

That's a good list too and one I'm more familiar with since I recognize every name.

No disrespect to the 1980s-90s, but these recent coaches are amazing.

[USBasket_EricE]

I probably should have mentioned Casey Owens in there, but since he only coached one season, I didn't. It would also appear that I'd be playing favorites too and that tends to tick other people off! He did do an excellent job in the regular season of 2004-2005, getting the better record than Joerger, but ultimately lost to him and the Skyforce in the play-offs, 3-2. I still don't know what the Wizards were thinking when they let him go, but getting Dave Bliss ultimately led to Bliss' decision to resign, which ultimately led to getting Joerger back! What a complicating process!

I do recognize some of the names in MZ's list. The Musselmans, Karl, the Panaggios, McHone, and of course, Saunders (by the way, are Maury and Dan related?). Just my opinion, but I'd put Joerger above Sonny Allen, Mike Thibault, Cazzie Russell, and maybe, just maybe, above McHone. Joerger maybe hasn't coached as long as them, but he has 5 first place overall finishes, spread out between three leagues (IBA, CBA, and D-League). His team has always made the play-offs and has won 4 out of a possible 6 championships (7 if you count the one season in the USBL and excluding this season since it's still going on). He has made the Finals 4 times, so obviously that means he's won a championship every time he's made the Finals. If he wins the D-League championship this year, then I know I'd put him above McHone. If McHone wins the D-League championship, obviously I would be proven wrong when I compare him head-to-head with Joerger. We'll just have to wait and see!

[DakotaWizardsFan]

I still don't know what the Wizards were thinking when they let him go, but getting Dave Bliss ultimately led to Bliss' decision to resign, which ultimately led to getting Joerger back! What a complicating process!

Sometimes things have to get worse before they get better. Last year was just preparation for an even greater than ever season.

I do recognize some of the names in MZ's list. The Musselmans, Karl, the Panaggios, McHone, and of course, Saunders (by the way, are Maury and Dan related?). Just my opinion, but I'd put Joerger above Sonny Allen, Mike Thibault, Cazzie Russell, and maybe, just maybe, above McHone.

I recognize most of the names (the first 6 plus McHone). I think the Panaggios are related, but I'm not sure. I'll have to look that up.

EDIT: I just found this:
Panaggio spent three seasons as an assistant coach with Quad City before taking over the head coaching duties from his father Mauro, who preceded Dan as head coach. Before joining the CBA, Panaggio served as the head coach at Monroe Community College in Rochester , New York .

ANOTHER EDIT: I know some of the "other notables" too obviously. I'd be stupid not to know who Phil Jackson is.

[mzracing76]

yes, the Panaggios are related. (father-son)

Mauro Coached in the CBA from 1978-1996, and his son Dan coached in the CBA (Currently in LA with the NBDL) from 1991-1999. Between them, they have won 4 CBA titles in 6 trips.

Dan Panaggion served as a Assistant Coach for Mauro in Quad City from 1988-1991. he started out as a Player for the 1987-88 Thunder under his dad.

Your probally right about Cazzie Russell, i have that must respect for him though, he always had bad ownership where he was a coach. (Columbus Horizon, Grand Rapids Hoops. Rockford he actually had a wining record).

I know Jeoger is a great coach, i just cant fit that many in the top ten respect wise. Cazzie did manage 240 wins on bad teams over 8-9 years.


no disrespect to Dave.

MZ

[USBasket_EricE]

^I usually base my opinions on what I remember too, so I understand.