Alan Black
Encyclopedia
Alan Black is a former basketball
player and basketball coach in the Australia
n National Basketball League
. Black's last coaching appointment was the head coach
of the Cairns Taipans
.
Black has three children, sons Stephen Black
(former NBL player) and Andrew Black, who attends Aquinas College
and daughter Marissa Black.
. In 1987, Black was once again a member of a losing Grand Final side when the Wildcats were defeated by the Brisbane Bullets
. After only one more season with the Wildcats, Black retired from playing in 1988.
in 1989. His rookie coaching season saw him lead the Wildcats to third on the NBL ladder (with 16 wins and 8 losses) and through to the semi-finals. In 1990 he was once again named the Wildcats head coach, but after only two games was controversially fired by the club to be replaced by Cal Bruton for the remainder of the season. That season saw the Wildcats win their very first championship with the team Black had recruited.
In 1993, Black became the head coach for the Illawarra Hawks
and led the club into the quarter finals each year until he left the club at the end of the 1995 season. During his time with the Hawks, Black was named the NBL's Coach of the Year
in both 1993 and 1995.
Black made the moved to Sydney
in 1996 to begin coaching the Sydney Kings
. However, his tenure with the Kings was not as successful as his time with the Hawks and left the club after the 1997 season.
In 1998, Black returned to the Perth Wildcats as head coach, this time replacing Adrian Hurley
. The following season Black's son, Stephen, began his NBL career with the Wildcats, appearing in a minor role to replace the injured Ricky Grace
. He would eventually become a full member of the squad in 1999.
This time around, Alan Black's tenure at the Wildcats lasted considerably longer than his first, and also resulted in his first NBL championship in 1999/2000. Black coached the Wildcats for six straight seasons before history seemed to repeat itself. After being defeated by the Sydney Kings in the 2002/2003 grand final series, Black was once again fired by the club which was somewhat surprising, especially to the coach that had led them to their 7th grand final appearance. Black was replaced by his assistant coach Mike Ellis. In response to his fathers sacking, son Stephen also departed the club.
Black returned to the NBL as a head coach in 2005, this time for the Cairns Taipans
. In his first season with the Taipans, he coached the team to their highest finish on the NBL ladder (5th) and to their first semi-final appearance. After the club went into receivership at the end of 2008, Black agreed to a pay reduction of 50% to continue to aid the floundering NBL club. Despite this he was still sacked from the team just prior to the end of the season.
. He maintained this role as assistant coach for the Boomers for seven years, including during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 1998 FIBA World Championship
and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and basketball coach in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n National Basketball League
National Basketball League (Australia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
. Black's last coaching appointment was the head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
of the Cairns Taipans
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club is based in the northern Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999/2000 season...
.
Black has three children, sons Stephen Black
Stephen Black
Stephen Black is an Australian former professional basketball player who last played for the Cairns Taipans of the NBL. He is the son of Alan Black...
(former NBL player) and Andrew Black, who attends Aquinas College
Aquinas College
Aquinas College may refer to any one of several educational institutions:-In Australia:*Aquinas College, Adelaide – a Roman Catholic residential college.*Aquinas College, Sydney – a Roman Catholic co-educational secondary school....
and daughter Marissa Black.
Playing career
Black started his NBL playing career in the league's inaugural year, 1979, playing for the Nunawading Spectres. In 1981, he was a member of the Nunawading side that lost to Launcestion Casino City in the Grand Final that season. After seven seasons with the Spectres, Black made the moved west in 1986 to play for the Perth WildcatsPerth Wildcats
The Perth Wildcats are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the National Basketball League. The Wildcats are the only team in the league representing the state of Western Australia and are based in the state capital, Perth...
. In 1987, Black was once again a member of a losing Grand Final side when the Wildcats were defeated by the Brisbane Bullets
Brisbane Bullets
The Brisbane Bullets were, until 2008, a professional basketball team competing in Australia's National Basketball League. The Bullets were one of only two teams that survived since the NBL's inception in 1979; the only surviving team is now the Wollongong Hawks. The team played in Midnight Navy...
. After only one more season with the Wildcats, Black retired from playing in 1988.
Coaching career
Black started his NBL coaching career by replacing then Wildcats head coach Cal BrutonCal Bruton
Calvin Bruton is a former player and coach in the Australian National Basketball League. Originally an American import, but later becoming a naturalised Australian, Bruton has been an integral part of the league since its inception...
in 1989. His rookie coaching season saw him lead the Wildcats to third on the NBL ladder (with 16 wins and 8 losses) and through to the semi-finals. In 1990 he was once again named the Wildcats head coach, but after only two games was controversially fired by the club to be replaced by Cal Bruton for the remainder of the season. That season saw the Wildcats win their very first championship with the team Black had recruited.
In 1993, Black became the head coach for the Illawarra Hawks
Wollongong Hawks
The Wollongong Hawks are a team competing in Australia's National Basketball League , based in the New South Wales city of Wollongong. They won the NBL championship in 2001 and finished as runners-up in 2005 and 2010...
and led the club into the quarter finals each year until he left the club at the end of the 1995 season. During his time with the Hawks, Black was named the NBL's Coach of the Year
NBL (Australia) Coach of the Year
The NBL Coach of the Year award takes into account regular-season performances only, and is voted on by head coaches, assistant coaches and team captains on a 3-2-1 basis.* 1980 Barry Barnes...
in both 1993 and 1995.
Black made the moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1996 to begin coaching the Sydney Kings
Sydney Kings
The Sydney Kings are a professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. They are the only team to date to win three consecutive championships in the NBL and currently sit third behind the Adelaide 36ers and Melbourne Tigers two away from the record five wins...
. However, his tenure with the Kings was not as successful as his time with the Hawks and left the club after the 1997 season.
In 1998, Black returned to the Perth Wildcats as head coach, this time replacing Adrian Hurley
Adrian Hurley
Dr Adrian Hurley OAM is a former Australian basketball coach and a former player. He is now retired and is presently President of Basketball NSW and serves on advisory committees for Basketball Australia and the National Basketball League....
. The following season Black's son, Stephen, began his NBL career with the Wildcats, appearing in a minor role to replace the injured Ricky Grace
Ricky Grace
Ricky Ray Grace is an American/Australian professional basketball player who played in the Australian National Basketball League from 1990 until the 2004/2005 season.- Playing career :...
. He would eventually become a full member of the squad in 1999.
This time around, Alan Black's tenure at the Wildcats lasted considerably longer than his first, and also resulted in his first NBL championship in 1999/2000. Black coached the Wildcats for six straight seasons before history seemed to repeat itself. After being defeated by the Sydney Kings in the 2002/2003 grand final series, Black was once again fired by the club which was somewhat surprising, especially to the coach that had led them to their 7th grand final appearance. Black was replaced by his assistant coach Mike Ellis. In response to his fathers sacking, son Stephen also departed the club.
Black returned to the NBL as a head coach in 2005, this time for the Cairns Taipans
Cairns Taipans
The Cairns Taipans are an Australian professional basketball team competing in the Australasian National Basketball League. The club is based in the northern Queensland city of Cairns. The Taipans, named after a species of venomous snake native to Australia, entered the NBL in the 1999/2000 season...
. In his first season with the Taipans, he coached the team to their highest finish on the NBL ladder (5th) and to their first semi-final appearance. After the club went into receivership at the end of 2008, Black agreed to a pay reduction of 50% to continue to aid the floundering NBL club. Despite this he was still sacked from the team just prior to the end of the season.
Olympic career
Over the years, Black was also been an assistant coach at a national level for AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He maintained this role as assistant coach for the Boomers for seven years, including during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, the 1998 FIBA World Championship
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
and the 2000 Sydney Olympics.