Chris Finch (basketball)

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Chris Finch
Dexia Mons-Hainaut
2009–2011Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011–2016Houston Rockets (assistant)
2016–2017Denver Nuggets (associate HC)
2017–2020New Orleans Pelicans (associate HC)
2020–2021Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2021–presentMinnesota Timberwolves
Career highlights and awards

Chris Finch (born November 6, 1969)[1] is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is the head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[2] He was previously an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, and Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).[3]

Playing career

College

Finch is a 1992 graduate of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991 and 1992.[4] In 1991, as one of the best defenders in the nation's third division, he helped lead the F&M Diplomats to the NCAA Division III championship game in Springfield, Ohio, in which the team lost to Wisconsin–Platteville. Finch ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.[5]

Professional

Finch began his playing career in England with the Sheffield Forgers of the then-second tier of British basketball, the National Basketball League. Before the 1994–95 season, Finch and Sheffield moved into the first tier of British basketball, the British Basketball League.

Coaching career

Sheffield Sharks

Finch started his head coaching career in

BBL Coach of the Year.[1]

Gießen 46ers

He then moved to Germany for a fresh challenge, where he was the head coach of the Giessen 46ers, in the German Basketball Bundesliga. The team had a horrible year, and Finch was fired, after having a record of 4–13, with the team being on the verge of relegation.

Euphony Bree

After his unsuccessful time in Germany, Finch moved to Belgium, where he was the head coach of

Euphony Bree. He led Bree to their first and only Belgian Basketball League championship in 2005.[6]

Dexia Mons-Hainaut

In 2007, Finch moved to Euphony Bree's Belgian Basketball League rivals,

Dexia Mons-Hainaut, bringing several players with him and his successful assistant coach Johan Roijakkers. With Finch in charge, Dexia Mons-Hainaut reached the final of the EuroChallenge 2007–08, where they lost to BK Barons Riga by a single point.[7]

Rio Grande Valley Vipers

In 2009, Finch became the head coach of the

NBA D-League. Under Finch, the Vipers went 34–16, finishing in first place in the Western Conference, and earned the franchise's first playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vipers beat both Reno and Austin in three games, and swept Tulsa in the Finals to earn the franchise's first championship. Finch was named the D-League Coach of Year.[8]

Houston Rockets

On July 14, 2011, Finch was hired as an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets.[9] After Kevin McHale was fired in 2015 and J. B. Bickerstaff replaced him on an interim basis, Finch was named associate head coach.[10]

Denver Nuggets

On September 14, 2016, Finch was hired by the Denver Nuggets as an assistant coach alongside Mike Malone.[11]

New Orleans Pelicans

On June 6, 2017, Finch was officially hired by the New Orleans Pelicans as an assistant coach alongside Alvin Gentry.[12] On November 16, 2020, Finch was not retained by the Pelicans.[13]

Toronto Raptors

On December 4, 2020, he was officially announced as a new member of the coaching staff for the Toronto Raptors, where he served as assistant coach to Nick Nurse, who had served under him at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[14]

Minnesota Timberwolves

On February 22, 2021, the

NBA Coach of the Year.[17] On April 11, 2022, he signed a multi-year extension.[18] On February 4, 2024, he was named the head coach of the Western Conference at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.[19]
On April 21, 2024, Finch was named a top three finalist for NBA Coach of the Year.

Head coaching record

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Minnesota 2020–21 41 16 25 .390 4th in Northwest — — — — Missed playoffs
Minnesota
 2021–22 82 46 36 .561 3rd in Northwest 6 2 4 .333 Lost in First Round
Minnesota
 2022–23 82 42 40 .512 2nd in Northwest 5 1 4 .200 Lost in First Round
Minnesota
 2023–24 82 56 26 .683 1st in Northwest
Career 287 160 127 .557   11 3 8 .273  

National team career

Finch also coached the Great Britain men's national team at the FIBA EuroBasket 2009, FIBA EuroBasket 2011, and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He resigned after his team was eliminated from the Olympics to focus on his NBA coaching career.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b Britball.com Chris Finch (Coach) Sheffield Sharks.
  2. NBA.com
    . February 22, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ^ "NBA.com Vipers Tap Chris Finch as New Head Coach". NBA.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2010.
  4. ^ Godiplomats.com F&M Basketball All-Americans.
  5. ^ Godiplomats.com Christopher Finch '92 Induction Year: 2002 Sport(s): Basketball.
  6. ^ "Finch Named Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2010.
  7. ^ Monshainaut.be Club History. Archived October 23, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ^ Great Britain's Chris Finch named coach of the year.
  9. ^ "Rockets add Sampson, Bickerstaff, Finch and Gunning to coaching staff". NBA.com. July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Suarez, Paul (November 18, 2015). "Rockets Relieve Kevin McHale of Head Coaching Duties". NBA.com. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  11. ^ "Meet the 2016-17 Nuggets Coaches". NBA.com. September 14, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  12. ^ "Pelicans Add Chris Finch to Coaching Staff". NBA.com. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  13. ^ "Pelicans announce 2020–21 coaching staff". NBA.com. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  14. ^ Lopez, J. (December 4, 2020). "Raptors Announce Coaching Staff Changes". NBA.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "Minnesota Timberwolves Name Chris Finch Head Coach". NBA.com. February 22, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  16. ^ Krawczynski, Jon; Charania, Shams (February 22, 2021). "Timberwolves fire Ryan Saunders, hire Raptors' Chris Finch as new coach". The Athletic. Also written by The Athletic staff. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  17. ^ "Monty Williams of Phoenix Suns wins 2021-22 Coach of the Year award". NBA.com. May 9, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. ^ Nardinger, Taylor (April 11, 2022). "Timberwolves Sign Head Coach Chris Finch to Multi-Year Contract Extension". NBA.com. Retrieved April 11, 2022.
  19. ^ "Chris Finch to coach Western Conference in 2024 NBA All-Star Game". NBA.com. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "Olympics basketball: GB men's coach Chris Finch resigns". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
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