Donnie Walsh

Joseph Donald Walsh Jr., better known as Donnie Walsh ( * March 1, 1941 in New York City ) is a former basketball coach and currently the general manager of the New York Knicks.

Biography

Walsh attended Fordham Preparatory School in The Bronx in New York City. Then he played in college for the University of North Carolina for the legendary coach Frank McGuire and Dean Smith. Although he was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the draft, but never played in the NBA. After graduating from college, he decided to become a basketball coach.

Walsh worked for some college team as assistant coach, including seven years for the University of South Carolina, where he worked with McGuire. Then Walsh was taken from Larry Brown as assistant coach of the Denver Nuggets under contract. In 1979 he was named head coach of the Nuggets, he was also 1.5 years. Then he was replaced in 1980 by Doug Moe. In 1984, Donnie Walsh assistant coach of the Indiana Pacers.

Later he took in Indiana then the position of General Manager, where in 1987 he made ​​the controversial decision to Reggie Miller pod judge rather than the local hero Steve Alford. This decision should later turn out to be brilliant, as Reggie Miller a strong NBA career lay ( season 92/93 31.5 points on average and 20.6 points in the career section) while Alford was not NBA -ready, and after 3 years, there is not played more. Later, he became CEO and president of the Pacers, which he remained until shortly before the end of the 2007/2008 season.

Although Walsh never became general manager of the year, he is one of the best when it comes to draft picks and other managers actions. The Pacers reached the play-offs under him 16 of 17 times.

On 2 April 2008, Donnie Walsh General Manager of the New York Knicks.