Sidney Lowe

Sidney Lowe (born January 21, 1960)

Teams coached: Minnesota Timberwolves, Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies, NC State Wolfpack
NC State record: 86-78 (.524)
Overall record^: 86-78 (.524)

Career Accomplishments:

  • NCAA National Championships:  0
  • NCAA Tournament Appearances:  0
  • NIT Championships:  0
  • NIT Appearances:  2  (2007, 2010)

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2021-present Cleveland Cavaliers (asst)
2018-2021 Detroit Pistons (asst)
2016-2018 Washington Wizards (asst)
2014-2016 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst)
2011-2014 Utah Jazz (asst)
2006-2011 NC State
2005-2006 Detroit Pistons (asst)
2004-2005 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst)
2000-2002 Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies
1999-2000 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst)
1994-1999 Cleveland Cavaliers (asst)
1992-1994 Minnesota Timberwolves
1991-1992 Minnesota Timberwolves (asst)

Sidney Lowe Facts

  • Sidney Rochell Lowe
  • Born January 21, 1960
  • Hometown: Washington, D.C.
  • Alma Mater: North Carolina State University / Saint Paul’s College (BA, 2006)
  • Played for Hall of Fame head coach Morgan Wootten at DeMatha Catholic HS in Hyattsville, MD
    • Helped the team win a national championship as a junior, playing alongside his future NC State teammate Dereck Whittenburg
  • Recruited by Norm Sloan to play at NC State, then spent his final three years playing for new head coach Jim Valvano
    • Lowe and Whittenburg were members of the Wolfpack’s 1983 NCAA Championship team; averaged 11.3 ppg and 7.5 apg
    • Drafted in the 2nd round (1st pick) of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, though he never played for that team
    • Played for five NBA teams: one full season with the Pacers and partial seasons with the Pistons, Hawks, Hornets and Timberwolves
    • NBA head coaches Lowe played for include Jack McKinney, Chuck Daly, Mike Fratello, Dick Harter and Bill Musselman
    • Also played in the CBA for the Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers and Albany Patroons, as well as the Calgary 88s of the WBL
      • Coached in Tampa and Albany by Bill Musselman and then in Rapid City by his son, Eric Musselman
  • After retiring in 1991, Lowe began his coaching career with the last team he played for: the Minnesota Timberwolves
    • After a season assisting Jimmy Rodgers, Lowe was elevated to head coach in 1992 (about 20 games into that season)
    • Went 33-102 during his tenure as head coach, missing the playoffs both seasons
  • Assisted Mike Fratello in Cleveland and Flip Saunders in Minnesota before getting another head coaching shot in 2000
    • Led the Grizzlies for the last year in Vancouver and their first year in Memphis, going 46-126 in 2+ seasons as head coach
  • Spent another three seasons assisting Saunders, two more in Minnesota and then one in Detroit
  • Hired by his alma mater, NC State, in 2006, becoming the school’s first African-American head basketball coach
    • Was 86-78 in five seasons, reaching the NIT twice but never the NCAA Tournament
    • Resigned in 2011 after finishing 15-16 in a tie for tenth in the ACC
  • Returned to the pro ranks that same year, working as a NBA assistant ever since
    • Assisted Quin Snyder (Utah), Saunders & Sam Mitchell (Minnesota), Scoot Brooks (Washington), Dwane Casey (Detroit) and currently J.B. Bickerstaff in Cleveland

Sidney Lowe Coaching Tree

  • Mike Brown (Fayetteville Patriots, Roanoke Dazzle)
  • Stacey King (Sioux Falls Skyforce, Rockford Lightning)
  • Scott Roth (Iowa Wolves, Bakersfield Jam)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only