Mayk Fratello Head coach of the Ukrainian national basketball team Date of Birth: 24.02.1947 Country: USA

1. Mike Fratello: American Basketball Coach and Commentator
2. Early Life and Education
3. Coaching Beginnings
4. Assistant Coaching Roles
5. Success with Atlanta Hawks
6. Tenure with Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Memphis Grizzlies
8. Milestone Achievements
9. Coaching the Ukrainian National Team

Mike Fratello: American Basketball Coach and Commentator

Mike Fratello is a renowned American basketball coach and commentator. Throughout his illustrious career, he has coached several prominent teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Ukrainian national basketball team.

Early Life and Education

Fratello was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Vincent and Marie. He excelled in various sports during high school, serving as captain of the basketball, baseball, football, and field hockey teams. After graduating, he enrolled in Montclair State College in Montclair, New Jersey, where he played football.

Coaching Beginnings

Upon graduating from college, Fratello returned to his alma mater as an assistant coach for both the basketball and football teams. He subsequently moved to the University of Rhode Island as an assistant to head coach Tom Carmody. He also coached the university's freshman basketball team.

Assistant Coaching Roles

Fratello honed his coaching skills as an assistant at James Madison University under Lou Campanelli and then Villanova University under Rollie Massimino. In 1980, he joined the NBA as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks under Hubie Brown.

Success with Atlanta Hawks

Fratello guided the Hawks for seven seasons, compiling a 324-250 record. Under his leadership, the team reached the playoffs five times and emerged as the Central Division champions in 1987. He garnered the prestigious Coach of the Year award during the 1985-1986 season.

Tenure with Cleveland Cavaliers

From 1993 to 1999, Fratello coached the Cleveland Cavaliers. He led the team to a 248-212 record, earning four playoff appearances during his tenure.

Memphis Grizzlies

Fratello took over as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies in December 2004. He inherited a struggling team with a 5-11 record but guided them to a 45-37 finish and a playoff berth. The following season, the Grizzlies notched 49 wins and returned to the postseason. However, he was dismissed after a disappointing start to the 2006-2007 season.

Milestone Achievements

Fratello stands as the 19th winningest coach in NBA history and is ranked 21st in games coached.

Coaching the Ukrainian National Team

In February 2011, Fratello became the head coach of the Ukrainian national basketball team, leading them to their highest-ever finish of 6th place at the 2013 EuroBasket. He stepped down in 2015.