Bryan Gates is an American professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
coach who has been an assistant coach for the
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...
since 2023. Gates began his coaching experience with the
Idaho Stampede and the
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a semi-professional basketball team in Rapid City, South Dakota, that competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basket ...
during the late 1990s. In the
United States Basketball League, Gates was the head coach for the
Oklahoma Storm and the
Florence Flyers during the 2000s. During this time period, Gates and the Storm reach the league's championship game during 2000.
In 2005, Gates went to the
NBA D-League and became an assistant coach for the
Austin Toros
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
. With the Stampede from 2006 to 2009, his team won the 2007-08 D League Championship. He also won the
NBA G League Coach of the Year Award twice and coached during the 2008
NBA Development League All-Star Game. During 2009, he began his assistant coaching career in the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
. Some teams he has worked with include the
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Confere ...
and the
New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...
.
Early life and education
Gates spent his childhood in
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage, officially the Municipality of Anchorage, is the List of cities in Alaska, most populous city in the U.S. state of Alaska. With a population of 291,247 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it contains nearly 40 percent of ...
as a
ball boy during the
Great Alaska Shootout tournaments. After completing his post-secondary education at
Boise State University
Boise State University (BSU) is a Public university, public research university in Boise, Idaho, United States. Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church (United States), Episcopal Church, it became an independent junior college in 1934 and has b ...
, he declined a job in technology to work in basketball.
Career
Late 1990s to early 2000s
In 1997, Gates began his career as an intern with the
Idaho Stampede in basketball operations. While part of the
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association (CBA), originally known as the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League, and later as the Eastern Professional Basketball League and the Eastern Basketball Association, was a men's professional basketball m ...
team, Gates continued his intern position when he became an
account executive
Account executive is a role in advertising, marketing, sales, and finance involving intimate understanding of a client company's objectives and products and a professional capability to provide effective advice toward creation of successful pro ...
that year. He later became an assistant coach with Idaho at the end of 1997.
As a member of the
International Basketball Association in 1998, Gates joined the
Rapid City Thrillers
The Rapid City Thrillers were a semi-professional basketball team in Rapid City, South Dakota, that competed in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) beginning in the 1987 season. They were reincarnated in 1998 as an International Basket ...
in assistant positions as a general manager and coach.
In 1999, Gates became a director of player personnel for the Stampede. While in his director position until 2001, Gates continued his assistant coaching experience with Idaho to 2003.
When the Oklahoma Storm held their first ever game in 2000, Gates was one of their head coaches for the United States Basketball League team alongside Denny Price. In the USBL, Gates and the Storm were defeated by Dodge City during the league's championship game in 2000. After Price died in 2000, Gates became the sole coach of the Storm for the following season. With the Storm in 2001, Gates and his team reached the postseason's first round.
During this time period, Gates coached the Global Sports basketball team in exhibition games while with the Storm. In 2003, Gates coached the Hickory Nutz as part of the Carolinas Basketball League. That season, Gates was the CBL Coach of the Year and won the league championship with the Nutz. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Gary Steelheads.
Mid to late 2000s
When the Florence Flyers became an USBL team, Gates was chosen as their head coach in February 2004. With the Flyers, Gates also worked as their general manager before becoming a temporary owner of the team. Gates was released from his coaching position in May 2004. With the Flyers, Gates had 9 wins and 20 losses.
In 2005, Gates resumed his tenure with the Storm when he became their head coach and general manager. The following year, Gates continued to work with the Storm as their head coach. Gates was selected as the Coach of the Year for the USBL in 2006. As a USBL coach with the Storm between 2000 and 2006, Gates had 74 wins and 46 losses.[
For the NBA D-League, Gates became an assistant coach for the ]Austin Toros
Austin refers to:
Common meanings
* Austin, Texas, United States, a city
* Austin (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin (surname), a list of people and fictional characters
* Austin Motor Company, a British car manufac ...
in 2005. The following year, he became head coach of the Idaho Stampede in 2006 and led his team to win the 2007-08 D League Championship. In 2008, Gates was chosen as one of the coaches for the NBA Development League All-Star Game. After leaving the Stampede in 2009, Gates had 100 wins and 50 losses as a D-League coach.[
]
Late 2000s to 2020s
In 2009, Gates went to the National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...
and became an assistant coach for multiple teams. He started with the Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are an American professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California. The Kings compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Confere ...
in 2009.[ He then worked with the ]New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans. The Pelicans compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Division of the Western Confere ...
from 2010 to 2015 and the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves (often referred to as the Wolves or T-wolves) are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Divisio ...
from 2015 to 2016. In 2016, Gates returned to the Sacramento Kings until he rejoined the Timberwolves in 2019. Gates continued his assistant coaching career with the Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are an American professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA), We ...
in 2021.
While with the Suns, he was one of the coaches during the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge. In 2023, Gates was scheduled to work with the Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...
before he became an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers, also known colloquially as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlan ...
that year. Outside of the United States, Gates coached the Beirut Blue Stars of the Lebanese Basketball League
The Lebanese Basketball League is recognized as the top-tier professional men's basketball list of basketball leagues, league in Lebanon. It is organized annually as a national championship with playoffs and a national cup by the Lebanese Basketb ...
from 2004 to 2005.[ He was hired by the Canada men's national basketball team for the ]2015 Pan American Games
The 2015 Pan American Games (), officially the XVII Pan American Games () and commonly known as the Toronto 2015 Pan-Am Games (Toronto 2015), were a major international multi-sport event celebrated in the tradition of the Pan American Games, ...
.
Awards and personal life
Gates was twice named the NBA G League Coach of the Year with the Stampede, in 2007 and 2008. He is married with three children.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Bryan
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people
American men's basketball coaches
Austin Toros coaches
Basketball coaches from Alaska
Boise State University alumni
Idaho Stampede coaches
Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coaches
New Orleans Pelicans assistant coaches
Philadelphia 76ers assistant coaches
Phoenix Suns assistant coaches
Sacramento Kings assistant coaches
Sportspeople from Anchorage, Alaska
United States Basketball League coaches