Thomas Edward Nissalke (July 7, 1932 – August 22, 2019) was an American professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association and American Basketball Association. He coached several teams in both leagues, and had an overall coaching record of 371–508.
Nissalke attended Florida State University from 1953 to 1954, took a break, and resumed from 1956 to 1957.
Coaching career
Wayland Academy (1957–1962)
Nissalke started his coaching career at Wayland Academy as the varsity boys basketball coach when he was hired by Ray Patterson, his former coach.
In 1957–58, his team finished with an overall record of 6–12 and a Conference record of 5–9.
In 1958–59, his team finished with an overall record of 13–5.
In 1959–60, his team finished with an overall record of 9–9.
In 1960–61, his team finished with an overall record of 12–5 and a Conference record of 12–2, thus ending the season as conference champions.
In 1961–62, his team finished with an overall record of 9–10.
Nissalke coached there from 1957 until 1962. He went on to the college ranks, thus advancing his career. He finished with an overall record of 49–41 at Wayland.
Nissalke moved to the NBA with the Sonics for one season.
San Antonio Spurs (1973–1974)
Nissalke returned to the team, now in San Antonio, in 1973, bringing with him "a patterned, deliberate offense to San Antonio." During his tenure, the "Iceman" George Gervin had arrived from the Virginia Squires and was the center of the team. Though Nissalke's club was successful, he was fired in the beginning of the 1974–75 ABA season.
Utah Stars (1974–1976)
Nissalke then went to Utah with the ABA's Stars, but the club folded, surprisingly, at mid-season in the ABA's last hurrah in 1975–76. According to Remember the ABA, he has the final game ball in his closet.
Nissalke was an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets from 1994 to 1995.
Legacy
Nissalke holds the rare distinction of being named "Coach of the Year" in both the NBA and the ABA. He was also the commissioner of the short-lived National Basketball League in Canada in 1993–94. He had a combined coaching record of 371–508 (248–391 in NBA and 123–117 in ABA), with an 11–20 playoff record. He went 105–91 with the Chaparrals/Spurs, 13–32 with the Sonics, 18–26 with the Utah Stars, 124–122 with the Rockets, 60–124 with the Jazz, and 51–113 with the Cavaliers. He made it out of the first round of the playoffs just once, in 1977.
Post-coaching career
After his coaching career, Nissalke took on revamping the YMCA of Utah and served as chairman of the board and later interim CEO. The YMCA had its most successful fundraising campaigns during his tenure.
Nissalke's entrepreneurial activities included developing and owning several health clubs throughout Texas in addition to co-owning a successful bar and restaurant, Green Street in Salt Lake City, Utah for over twenty years.
In January 2006, his wife of 46 years, Nancy, who also was a native of Madison, Wisconsin, died, succumbing to cancer. Together they had two children and two granddaughters.
On August 22, 2019, Nissalke died at his home in Salt Lake City, Utah.[2]
