- Al Bianchi
Alfred A. "Al" Bianchi nickname "Funzy" (born
March 26 1932 , in Long Island City,New York ) is an American former professionalbasketball player and coach.Attended P.S. 4 elementary school and graduated from Long island High School 1950. A Korean War veteran. A 1954 graduate of
Bowling Green State University , voted All-American. Bianchi played ten seasons for theSyracuse Nationals (which became thePhiladelphia 76ers in 1963), beginning in 1956. In 1966, he was hired as theChicago Bulls ' first assistant coach, and from 1967 to 1969 he served as the first head coach of theSeattle SuperSonics , compiling a 53-111 record. Bianchi coached theWashington Caps and theVirginia Squires of theAmerican Basketball Association from 1969 through 1975. Bianchi also served as the Squires' general manager. [ [http://www.nba.com/features/kerr_070222.html NBA.com Broadcaster of the Week: Johnny Kerr, Chicago Bulls ] ] [ [http://www.remembertheaba.com/TeamMaterial/VirginiaMaterial/OaksCapsSquiresYearly.html Remember the ABA: Oakland Oaks/Washington Caps/Virginia Squires Year-to-Year Franchise Notes ] ] In 1971 Bianchi was named ABA Coach of the Year, guiding the Squires as they won the ABA's Eastern Division with a record of 55-29 (.655) , a win over theNew York Nets in the Eastern Division Semifinals and into the Eastern Division Finals where the Squires lost to theKentucky Colonels 4 games to 2. [ [http://www.remembertheaba.com/PlayoffPages/1971Playoffs.html Remember the ABA: 1970-71 Regular Season Standings and Playoff Results ] ] He served as the general manager for the New York Knicks in 1980s. In 2002 Bianchi joined thePhoenix Suns as an assistant coach. He served asPhoenix Suns assistant coach during John MacLeod's tenure as their head coach.Controversy
Bianchi once threw a clipboard at an NBA official during a game on December 10, 1982. He was fined $10,000.
References
External links
* [http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/biancal01c.html Bianchi coaching record at BasketballReference.com]
* [http://www.nba.com/suns/news/bianchi_020218.html Suns news release on Bianchi hire]
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