John Kuester

College coach infobox


Name = John Kuester
| ImageWidth =
Caption =
DateOfBirth = birth date and age|1955|2|6
Birthplace = Richmond, Virginia, US
DateOfDeath =
Deathplace =
Sport = Basketball
Team = Cleveland Cavaliers
Title = Assistant coach
CurrentRecord =
OverallRecord =
BowlRecord =
Awards =
Championships =
Player = *
Years = 1973–1977
Team = North Carolina
Position = Point guard
Coach = *
CoachYears = 1980–1981
1981–1983
1983-1985
1985-1990
1995-1997
1997-2003
2003-2004
2004-2005
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-present

CoachTeams = Richmond (asst.)
Boston University (asst.)
Boston University
George Washington
Boston Celtics (asst.)
Philadelphia 76ers (asst.)
Detroit Pistons (asst.)
New Jersey Nets (asst.)
Philadelphia 76ers (asst.)
Orlando Magic (asst.)
Cleveland Cavaliers (asst.)
FootballHOF =
CollegeHOFID =
BBallHOF = Infobox NBA Player
name = John Kuester
nickname =
position = Guard
height_ft = 6
height_in = 2
weight_lbs = 180
league = NBA
nationality = USA
birth_date = Birth date and age|1955|2|6
birth_place = Richmond, Virginia
highschool = Benedictine (Virginia)
college = North Carolina (1973-1977)
draft = 53rd overall
draft_year = 1977
draft_team = Kansas City Kings
career_start = 1977
career_end = 1980
former_teams = Kansas City Kings
Denver Nuggets
Indiana Pacers

John Dewitt Kuester Jr. [http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kuestjo01.html John Kuester statistics] , "Basketball-Reference.com"] (pronounced: QUE-sterPDFlink| [http://www.nba.com/media/sixers/23-31_0506front_office.pdf Philadelphia 76ers Front Office Staff] , "nba.com" |1.35 MiB ; retrieved August 14, 2007] ) (born February 6 1955, in Richmond, Virginia) is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'2" (188 cm) 180 lb (82 kg) guard and played collegiately with the University of North Carolina Tar Heels from 1973–77. [http://www.nba.com/nets/news/kuester_hired_072304.html Nets Name John Kuester Assistant Coach] , July 23, 2004] PDFlink| [http://www.nba.com/media/magic/0607mg_B-OPS.pdf Orlando Magic Basketball Operations] @ "nba.com" |2.63 MiB ; retrieved August 14, 2007] He played in the NBA from 1977 to 1980.

Playing career

College

Kuester played four seasons with the UNC Tar Heels under head coach Dean Smith, for whom he won two ACC championships and helped reach the NCAA Tournament four times, including an appearance in the 1977 NCAA Finals, in which they lost to Marquette 67–59. [ [http://www.shrpsports.com/collbask/1977.htm 1977 NCAA Basketball Tournament] , "shrpsports.com"] In both his junior and senior year (1979 and 1980), Kuester was voted UNC's best defensive player. Also in his senior year, as was voted Most Valuable Player of the ACC Tournament and the NCAA East Regionals.

Professional

Kuester was selected with the 9th pick of the third round (53rd overall) in the 1977 NBA Draft by the Kansas City Kings. He played 78 games for them in 1977-78, averaging 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. In his second and third (and final) seasons he played with the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers, respectively.

Coaching career

After his playing days, Kuester began a basketball coaching career, volunteering as an assistant at the University of Richmond in 1980 to 1981. From 1981 to 1983 he was an assistant to Rick Pitino at Boston University, before succeeding him in 1983 as the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I in history.

From 1985 to 1990 he was the head coach at George Washington University. His 1988-1989 Colonials team compiled a 1-27 record, one of the worst ever in NCAA history. [ [http://statsheet.com/mcb/coaches/john-kuester/career_record Statsheet] ]

He continued his career on the sidelines in the NBA, joining the Boston Celtics in 1990 and serving as an assistant from 1995 to 1997, and from 1997 to 2003 an assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers under head coach Larry Brown. In 2003-04, Kuester followed Brown to the Detroit Pistons where he also served as an assistant. In 2004-05 Kuester was an assistant with the New Jersey Nets, and returned to the 76ers once more in 2005-06. In July 2006, Kuester was named as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic. [ [http://www.insidehoops.com/kuester-magic-070606.shtml Orlando magic hire John Kuester as assistant coach] , July 6, 2006]

On August 12, 2007, it was reported from league sources that Kuester would be named to Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown's staff, replacing the departing Kenny Natt. [ [http://www.ohio.com/sports/cavs/9109181.html Cavs interested in retired guard Allan Houston] , "ohio.com", published August 12, 2007]

Family

Together, Kuester and wife, Tricia, have a son, John III, and a daughter, Katelyn. Katelyn is a basketball player who in 2007 verbally committed to attend St. Joseph's University. [ [http://www.hoopgurlz.com/story/bayou-prospect-watch Bayou Prospect Watch] , "hoopgurlz.com", by Glenn Nelson, posted July 28, 2007]

Coaching record

Notes

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/coachfile/john_kuester/index.html NBA.com John Kuester coach file]
* [http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=KUESTJO01 NBA stats] @ basketballreference.com

Persondata
NAME = Kuester, John
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Kuester, John Dewitt, Jr.; Kuester, John Dewitt
SHORT DESCRIPTION = 20th century American baskeball player and coach
DATE OF BIRTH = February 6 1955
PLACE OF BIRTH = Richmond, Virginia, United States
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =