Donnie Walsh

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Joseph Donald Walsh Jr., better known as Donnie Walsh (born March 1, 1941 in New York City) is a former professional basketball coach, and a current NBA executive. Walsh attended Fordham Preparatory School, in the Bronx, NY. Walsh played college basketball at the University of North Carolina playing for legendary Coach Frank McGuire and was selected by the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA draft, but never played in the NBA.

Walsh served as an assistant coach for several college teams, including 12 seasons at the University of South Carolina, working with McGuire who was the Gamecocks head coach. From there Walsh was hired as an assistant with the Denver Nuggets by Larry Brown. He became the head coach of the Nuggets in 1979 and held the position for a year and a half, being replaced with Doug Moe in 1980. In 1984, he became an assistant with the Indiana Pacers.

He later took a position as general manager with the Pacers; where in 1987 he made the then-controversial (but ultimately correct) decision to select Reggie Miller in the NBA Draft, over local hero Steve Alford of Indiana University. The decision proved to be brilliant, as Miller had a magnificent NBA career whereas Alford was a bust in the pros. He was later promoted to the position of CEO and president. As of February 2006, he still holds that title.

[edit] External links

• BasketballReference.com: Donnie Walsh
• HoopsHype.com General Managers:Donnie Walsh
• indystar.com: Biography of Donnie Walsh

Preceded by: Larry Brown

Denver Nuggets Head Coach 1979–1980

Succeeded by: Doug Moe