Pelicans Add Chris Finch to Coaching Staff
The move is official
The New Orleans Pelicans announced today that Chris Finch has been hired as an assistant coach on Alvin Gentry’s staff.
“I’m very excited to welcome Chris to the Pelicans organization,” said Head Coach Alvin Gentry. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our coaching staff, and will be an integral part of our program as we move forward.”
Most recently, Finch served as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets during the 2016-17 season after spending five seasons on the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Prior to joining the Rockets in 2011, Finch served as the head coach of Houston’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he guided the team to consecutive appearances in the D-League Finals. In 2009-10, Finch was the recipient of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Award en route to capturing the 2010 D-League championship.
Prior to his experience in the United States, Finch built a successful overseas coaching career that included taking over the Great Britain National Team in May 2006 and winning FIBA’s 2007 Division B Promotional Competition. In 2009, his team qualified for the European Championships for the first time since 1981. Finch also led the British National Team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In addition to his work with the British National Team, Finch was a head coach of teams in England (Sheffield Sharks), Germany (Giessen 46ers) and Belgium (Euphony Bree, Dexia Mons-Hainaut) from 1997-2009. Finch, who has three titles and three BBL Cup Finals on his resume, qualified for the playoffs in 11 of his 12 seasons overseas. A three-time Coach of the Year, he was also selected as a FIBA EuroCup All-Star head coach. He began his career with Sheffield, which was the same club that he played on during his four-year professional playing career. Under Finch’s tutelage, the Sharks enjoyed the franchise’s most successful run in its history. Finch was named the BBL Coach of the Year after winning the regular season title with Sheffield in 1998-99. He also led Euphony Bree to their first-ever championship in 2005.
Raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, Finch graduated in 1992 as a two-time All-American at Franklin & Marshall College, and was inducted into the F&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
“I’m very excited to welcome Chris to the Pelicans organization,” said Head Coach Alvin Gentry. “He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our coaching staff, and will be an integral part of our program as we move forward.”
Most recently, Finch served as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets during the 2016-17 season after spending five seasons on the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Prior to joining the Rockets in 2011, Finch served as the head coach of Houston’s NBA Development League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, where he guided the team to consecutive appearances in the D-League Finals. In 2009-10, Finch was the recipient of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year Award en route to capturing the 2010 D-League championship.
Prior to his experience in the United States, Finch built a successful overseas coaching career that included taking over the Great Britain National Team in May 2006 and winning FIBA’s 2007 Division B Promotional Competition. In 2009, his team qualified for the European Championships for the first time since 1981. Finch also led the British National Team in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. In addition to his work with the British National Team, Finch was a head coach of teams in England (Sheffield Sharks), Germany (Giessen 46ers) and Belgium (Euphony Bree, Dexia Mons-Hainaut) from 1997-2009. Finch, who has three titles and three BBL Cup Finals on his resume, qualified for the playoffs in 11 of his 12 seasons overseas. A three-time Coach of the Year, he was also selected as a FIBA EuroCup All-Star head coach. He began his career with Sheffield, which was the same club that he played on during his four-year professional playing career. Under Finch’s tutelage, the Sharks enjoyed the franchise’s most successful run in its history. Finch was named the BBL Coach of the Year after winning the regular season title with Sheffield in 1998-99. He also led Euphony Bree to their first-ever championship in 2005.
Raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, Finch graduated in 1992 as a two-time All-American at Franklin & Marshall College, and was inducted into the F&M Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
O. Cauchi
@paxer89
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