Has All Star Game ever been coached by a Rookie coach?

[MarAzul]

Steve Kerr has the record for the winningest rookie coach, so far.


http://www.pressdemocrat.com/sports/3234036-181/steve-kerr-makes-history-as

 

[KingSpeed]

I don't know. Let's see what happens in the next month.

 

[MarAzul]

I don't know. Let's see what happens in the next month.

It shouldn't take a month to answer the question.

I think Larry Bird was a Rookie coach in 98 when he coached the Eastern All Stars.

 

[PDXFonz]

Great question Marazul. I don't know the answer and cant look it up at the moment but I am definitely curious.

 

[riverman]

I would think maybe Spoelstra or Brooks off the top of my head might have coached it as rookie coaches. Not sure though.

 

[MarAzul]

I would think maybe Spoelstra or Brooks off the top of my head might have coached it as rookie coaches. Not sure though.

Nope, Spoelstra and Brooks were several years as head coach before doing the AS game.

Larry Bird I think is the only one to date.

 

[magnifier661]

Nope, Spoelstra and Brooks were several years as head coach before doing the AS game.

Larry Bird I think is the only one to date.

How about Riley? I don't know for sure, but he won a title his rookie year as coach.

Also, this maybe a year where there is 2 rookie coaches.

 

[MarAzul]

Good call Mags! Riley and Bird. Any other?

Budenholzer has a shot but slim.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Good call Mags! Riley and Bird. Any other?

Budenholzer has a shot but slim.

Riley (1982) was the first one I thought of after Bird (1998). I don't think it's really that rare. I didn't do a complete search, but a couple more I came up with were Billy Cunningham in 1978 and Paul Westphal in 1993. I'm not old enough to remember, but I'm sure there were other rookie all star coaches back in the 50s and 60s (although Red Aurbach had a 11-peat in the Eastern Conference from 1957 - 1967). For example, Ed Macauley only coached two seasons, 1959 and 1960 and was the all star coach both times. So, add him to the list.

I'm sure there have been others, but I can't recall ever having two rookie coaches in the same all star team. I think Cleveland is going to pass Toronto by then, so it could very well be Kerr on one bench and David Blatt on the other.

BNM