Stan Albeck

Stan Albeck (1931-2021)

Teams coached: Adrian Bulldogs, Northern Michigan Wildcats, Denver Pioneers, Denver Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, Bradley Braves
Adrian record^: 16-5 (.762)
Northern Michigan record^: 178-77 (.698)
Denver record: 15-35 (.300)
Bradley record: 75-71 (.514)
Overall record^: 284-188 (.602)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2000-2002 Toronto Raptors (asst)
1997-2000 Atlanta Hawks (asst)
1995-1996 New Jersey Nets (asst)
1986-1991 Bradley
1985-1986 Chicago Bulls
1983-1985 New Jersey Nets
1980-1983 San Antonio Spurs
1979-1980 Cleveland Cavaliers
1976-1979 Los Angeles Lakers (asst)
1974-1976 Kentucky Colonels (asst)
1972-1974 San Diego Conquistadors (asst)
1971-1972 Denver Rockets (asst)
1970-1971 Denver Rockets (interim HC)
1970 Denver Rockets (asst)
1968-1970 Denver
1957-1968 Northern Michigan
1956-1957 Adrian

Stan Albeck Facts

  • Charles Stanley Albeck
  • Born May 17, 1931
  • Died March 25, 2021
  • Hometown: Chenoa, Illinois
  • Alma Mater: Bradley University (BA, 1955) / Michigan State University (MA, 1957)
  • Played three years at Bradley – interrupted by two years of military service – under head coaches Forddy Anderson and Bob Vanatta
    • Later inducted into the Bradley Athletics Hall of Fame (class of 1959)
  • Started coaching in 1956 at NAIA (now Division III) Adrian College in Michigan; went 16-5 in his lone season with the Bulldogs
  • Moved on to Northern Michigan University in 1957, another NAIA program that is now a D-III member
    • Went 178-77 over 11 seasons, going to the NAIA Tournament eight times and reaching the Final Four in 1961
  • Hired in 1968 to be the head coach at Division I Denver, going 15-35 in two seasons at the helm
  • Moved up to the pro ranks in 1970, spent time as an assistant with the Denver Rockets, San Diego Conquistadors, Kentucky Colonels and LA Lakers
    • Coaches he worked under include Joe Belmont, Alex Hannum, K. C. Jones, Wilt Chamberlain, Hubie Brown & Jerry West
    • Went 27–44 as interim head coach of the Denver Rockets in 1970-71
    • Was part of the Kentucky Colonels’ 1975 ABA title-winning coaching staff
  • Spent one season (1979-80) as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, going 37-45 and missing the Playoffs
  • Became head coach of the San Antonio Spurs the following season, beginning a successful three-year stint with the franchise
    • Won three straight Midwest Division titles and reached the Western Conference Finals in both 1982 and 1983
    • Left San Antonio in 1983 with an overall record of 166-107 (including a 13-14 mark in the Playoffs)
  • Spent three more years as an NBA head coach, two with the New Jersey Nets and one with the Chicago Bulls
    • Reached the Playoffs each year but did get back to the Conference Finals
    • Coached a young Michael Jordan in Chicago, though MJ played just 21 games that year due to a broken foot
    • Finished his NBA head coaching career with 307 regular season wins and 18 playoff wins (325-293 overall)
  • Returned to alma mater Bradley in 1986, leading the Braves for the next five seasons
    • Compiled a 75-71 overall record, highlighted by a MVC title and NCAA Tournament berth in 1988
  • After a few years away, Albeck spent six more seasons as an NBA assistant coach before retiring in 2002
    • Coached under Butch Beard for one year with the Nets and under Lenny Wilkens for five with the Hawks and Raptors
  • Passed away in March 2021 at the age of 89; along with his wife, Phyllis, had five children

Stan Albeck Coaching Tree

  • Murray Arnold (Stetson, Western Kentucky)
  • Larry Brown (SMU, Kansas, UCLA + 10x NBA/ABA teams)
  • Wayne Chapman (Kentucky Wesleyan)
  • Mike Dunleavy (Tulane, LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Milwaukee Bucks, LA Lakers)
  • Sidney Green (Florida Atlantic, North Florida, Southampton)
  • Kyle Macy (Morehead State)
  • Morris McHone (San Antonio Spurs)
  • Kevin McKenna (Indiana State, Omaha, Sioux Falls Skyforce)
  • Mike Schuler (LA Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers)
  • John Shumate (Phoenix Mercury, SMU, Grand Canyon)

 

^ overall record includes head coaching positions at NCAA and NAIA levels only; Adrian and Northern Michigan programs were at the NAIA level during Albeck’s tenures there