Chris Finch (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Chris Finch is a former American
professional basketball
player, and a current basketball coach
. He is currently the assistant coach of the Houston Rockets
of the NBA
, and the head coach of the senior Great Britain men's national basketball team.
in Lancaster, PA, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991 and 1992. In 1991, as one of the best defenders in the nation's third division, he helped lead the F&M Diplomats to the NCAA Division III championship game in Springfield, Ohio, where the team lost to Wisconsin-Platteville. Finch ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
, with the Sheffield Forgers
(now known as the Sheffield Sharks) of the then second-tier of British basketball, the National Basketball League
. Before the 1994-95 season, Finch and Sheffield moved into the first-tier of British basketball, the British Basketball League
.
, with the Sheffield Sharks
of the British Basketball League
, the same team that he played on during his pro playing career. He led them to several titles during his tenure, making the franchise the most successful in league history. After winning the regular season title with Sheffield in the 1998-99 season
, he was named the BBL Coach of the Year.
. The team had a horrible year, and Finch was fired, after having a record of 4-13, with the team being on the verge of relegation
.
, where he was the head coach of Euphony Bree
. He led Bree to their first ever Belgian Basketball League
championship in 2005.
Belgian Basketball League
rivals, Dexia Mons-Hainaut
, bringing several players with him. With Finch in charge, Dexia Mons-Hainaut reached the final of the EuroChallenge 2007-08, where they lost to BK Barons Riga
by a single point.
of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
, of the NBA D-League. Under Finch, the Vipers went 34-16, finishing in first place in the Western Conference, and earned the franchise's first playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vipers beat both Reno and Austin
in 3 games, and swept Tulsa
in the Finals to earn the franchise's first championship. Finch was named the D-League Coach of Year.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball
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 a current basketball coach
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
. He is currently the assistant coach of the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, and the head coach of the senior Great Britain men's national basketball team.
College
Finch is a 1992 graduate of Franklin & Marshall CollegeFranklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
in Lancaster, PA, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991 and 1992. In 1991, as one of the best defenders in the nation's third division, he helped lead the F&M Diplomats to the NCAA Division III championship game in Springfield, Ohio, where the team lost to Wisconsin-Platteville. Finch ranks among the school's all-time leaders in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
Pro career
Finch began his playing career in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with the Sheffield Forgers
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
(now known as the Sheffield Sharks) of the then second-tier of British basketball, the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United Kingdom)
The National Basketball League, or NBL for short, is a British basketball league. The league started in 1972 and continued through to 2003 renamed the English Basketball League.-1972-1993:...
. Before the 1994-95 season, Finch and Sheffield moved into the first-tier of British basketball, the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
.
Sheffield Sharks
Finch started his head coaching career in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with the Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks
Sheffield Sharks, officially named One Health Sheffield Sharks due to sponsorship, is a professional basketball team from the city of Sheffield, England. Sharks currently play in the British Basketball League and play their home fixtures at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield...
of the British Basketball League
British Basketball League
The British Basketball League, often abbreviated to the BBL, is the premier men's professional basketball league in the United Kingdom. The BBL runs two knockout competitions alongside the league championship; the BBL Cup and the BBL Trophy....
, the same team that he played on during his pro playing career. He led them to several titles during his tenure, making the franchise the most successful in league history. After winning the regular season title with Sheffield in the 1998-99 season
1998–99 British Basketball League season
The 1998-1999 BBL season, known as the Budweiser Basketball League for sponsorship reasons, was the 12th season of the British Basketball League since its establishment in 1987. The regular season commenced on September 12, 1998, and ended on April 4, 1999, with a total of 13 teams competing,...
, he was named the BBL Coach of the Year.
Gießen 46ers
He then moved to Germany for a fresh challenge, where he was the head coach of the Gießen 46ers, in the German Basketball BundesligaBasketball Bundesliga
The Basketball Bundesliga — commonly abbreviated BBL — is the highest level league of club basketball in Germany. The league comprises 18 teams. A BBL season is split into a league stage and a playoff stage...
. The team had a horrible year, and Finch was fired, after having a record of 4-13, with the team being on the verge of relegation
Promotion and relegation
In many sports leagues around the world, promotion and relegation is a process that takes place at the end of each season. Through it, teams are transferred between divisions based on their performance that season...
.
Euphony Bree
After his unsuccessful time in Germany, Finch moved to BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, where he was the head coach of Euphony Bree
Euphony Bree
Bree BBC is a professional basketball team in Belgium. The club competes in the Basketball League Belgium and were founded in 1960. It plays in the Tilmans Expo Centre in Bree....
. He led Bree to their first ever Belgian Basketball League
Basketball League Belgium
The Basketball League Belgium , also known as the Ligue Ethias or Ethias League, is the highest professional basketball league in Belgium.-Teams:* Antwerp Giants* Belgacom Liège Basket* Dexia Mons-Hainaut* Generali Okapi Aalstar...
championship in 2005.
Dexia Mons-Hainaut
In 2007, Finch moved to Bree'sEuphony Bree
Bree BBC is a professional basketball team in Belgium. The club competes in the Basketball League Belgium and were founded in 1960. It plays in the Tilmans Expo Centre in Bree....
Belgian Basketball League
Basketball League Belgium
The Basketball League Belgium , also known as the Ligue Ethias or Ethias League, is the highest professional basketball league in Belgium.-Teams:* Antwerp Giants* Belgacom Liège Basket* Dexia Mons-Hainaut* Generali Okapi Aalstar...
rivals, Dexia Mons-Hainaut
Dexia Mons-Hainaut
Dexia Mons-Hainaut is a Belgian professional basketball club that is based in Mons, Wallonia. The club competes in the highest division of the Belgian League. The club's home arena is Mons Arena.-History:...
, bringing several players with him. With Finch in charge, Dexia Mons-Hainaut reached the final of the EuroChallenge 2007-08, where they lost to BK Barons Riga
Barons LMT
BK Barons/O!Karte is a professional basketball club, which is based in Riga, Latvia. Its head coach is Kārlis Muižnieks.-History:...
by a single point.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
In 2009, Finch became the head coachHead 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 Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers are a 2007-08 expansion team in the NBA Development League. They play their home games at the State Farm Arena, in Hidalgo, Texas....
, of the NBA D-League. Under Finch, the Vipers went 34-16, finishing in first place in the Western Conference, and earned the franchise's first playoff berth. In the playoffs, the Vipers beat both Reno and Austin
Austin Toros
The Austin Toros are a NBA Development League minor league basketball team based in Cedar Park, Texas, United States.The team plays home games at Cedar Park Center.Their logo is the design of a bull and basketball with the state of Texas in the background...
in 3 games, and swept Tulsa
Tulsa 66ers
The Tulsa 66ers are an NBA Development League team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the minor league affiliate of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Their logo design is a basketball behind mountains with a road leading up to them, all on a U.S...
in the Finals to earn the franchise's first championship. Finch was named the D-League Coach of Year.
British national team
Finch also coached the senior men's British national team at the EuroBasket 2009EuroBasket 2009
The EuroBasket 2009 was the 36th EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Poland, began on 7 September 2009 and concluded with the final on 20 September 2009...
.