John Kuester
John Kuester (born February 6, 1955)
Teams coached: Boston University Terriers, George Washington Colonials, Detroit Pistons
Boston University record: 31-28 (.525)
George Washington record: 50-94 (.347)
Overall record^: 81-122 (.399)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 0
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 2011-2012 | Los Angeles Lakers (asst) |
| 2009-2011 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2007-2009 | Cleveland Cavaliers (asst) |
| 2006-2007 | Orlando Magic (asst) |
| 2005-2006 | Philadelphia 76ers (asst) |
| 2004-2005 | New Jersey Nets (asst) |
| 2003-2004 | Detroit Pistons (asst) |
| 1997-2003 | Philadelphia 76ers (asst) |
| 1995-1997 | Boston Celtics (asst) |
| 1985-1990 | George Washington |
| 1983-1985 | Boston University |
| 1981-1983 | Boston University (asst) |
| 1980-1981 | Richmond (asst) |
John Kuester Facts
- John Dewitt Kuester, Jr.
- Born February 6, 1955
- Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
- Alma Mater: University of North Carolina (BA, 1977)
- Won three Catholic League titles playing for Warren Rutledge at Benedictine HS in Richmond, VA
- Went on to play for Hall of Fame coach Dean Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels; part of UNC’s 1977 NCAA Runner-up team
- Selected in the 3rd round of the 1977 NBA Draft (53rd overall) by the Kansas City Kings
- Played one year each for the Kings (coached by Phil Johnson), Denver Nuggets (Larry Brown) and Indiana Pacers (Bobby Leonard)
- Started his coaching career back in his hometown, spending the 1980-81 as a volunteer assistant for Lou Goetz and the Richmond Spiders
- Joined Rick Pitino‘s staff at BU in 1981 and two years later was elevated to head coach of the Terriers
- Was 31-28 in two seasons at the helm but did not reach the postseason as Pitino had done previously
- Left BU for George Washington in 1985 and coached the Colonials to a 50-94 record over five seasons; the team was just 1-27 in 1988-89
- Spent the rest of his coaching career in the NBA, joining the Celtics in 1990 and later spending two seasons as one of M.L. Carr’s assistants
- Other assistant roles include six years with the 76ers under Larry Brown, one year under Lawrence Frank in New Jersey, one more season in Philly under Maurice Cheeks, one season under Brian Hill in Orlando and two seasons in Cleveland under Mike Brown
- Was also on the Larry Brown‘s Detroit staff for the 2003-04 season when the Pistons won the 2004 NBA Championship
- Spent two seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons, going 57-107 and missing the NBA Playoffs in both years
- Reunited with Mike Brown for one more season with the Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12) as an assistant coach
- Other assistant roles include six years with the 76ers under Larry Brown, one year under Lawrence Frank in New Jersey, one more season in Philly under Maurice Cheeks, one season under Brian Hill in Orlando and two seasons in Cleveland under Mike Brown
John Kuester Coaching Tree
- Joe Dooley (East Carolina, Florida Gulf Coast)
- Bob MacKinnon Jr. (Texas Legends, Los Angeles D-Fenders, Springfield Armor, Idaho Stampede, Colorado 14ers, Merchant Marine)
- Darrell Walker (Little Rock, Clark Atlanta)
^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only
