Bryan Gates
Bryan Gates | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Professional basketball coach |
| Years active | Late 1990s–present |
| Known for | Assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers; Head coach of Idaho Stampede; NBA G League Coach of the Year (2007, 2008) |
Bryan Gates is an American professional basketball coach currently serving as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers since 2023. His coaching journey began in the late 1990s with the Idaho Stampede and Rapid City Thrillers. Throughout the 2000s, he led the Oklahoma Storm and Florence Flyers in the United States Basketball League, guiding the Storm to the league’s championship game in 2000.
Gates entered the NBA D-League in 2005 as an assistant coach with the Austin Toros. From 2006 until 2009, he was head coach of the Idaho Stampede, capturing the 2007-08 D League Championship. He earned two NBA G League Coach of the Year Award titles and coached in the 2008 NBA Development League All-Star Game. Beginning in 2009, Gates transitioned to NBA assistant coaching roles with teams such as the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans.
Early life and education
Raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Gates gained early basketball experience working as a ball boy during the Great Alaska Shootout. After completing his studies at Boise State University, he opted to pursue a career in basketball rather than entering the technology sector.
Late 1990s to early 2000s
Gates launched his professional career in 1997 as a basketball operations intern with the Idaho Stampede, quickly advancing to positions including account executive and assistant coach. In 1998, he joined the Rapid City Thrillers of the International Basketball Association as assistant general manager and coach. By 1999, Gates returned to the Stampede as director of player personnel while maintaining his role as assistant coach until 2003.
In 2000, Gates co-coached the Oklahoma Storm in the United States Basketball League (USBL) alongside Denny Price. Following Price’s passing that year, Gates assumed sole head coaching duties. Under his guidance, the Storm reached the postseason first round in 2001. Concurrently, he coached the Global Sports basketball team during exhibition matches.
In 2003, Gates led the Hickory Nutz of the Carolinas Basketball League (CBL), earning Coach of the Year honors and securing a league championship. During this period, he also worked as an assistant coach for the Gary Steelheads.
Mid to late 2000s
With the formation of the USBL’s Florence Flyers, Gates was appointed head coach in February 2004. He additionally held roles as general manager and briefly acted as interim owner before his release in May 2004, concluding with a 9–20 record.
Gates returned to lead the Oklahoma Storm as head coach and general manager from 2005 through 2006, earning USBL Coach of the Year honors in 2006. Across his USBL coaching tenure with Oklahoma (2000–2006), he amassed a record of 74–46.
In 2005, Gates joined the NBA D-League’s Austin Toros as an assistant coach before being promoted to head coach of the Idaho Stampede in 2006. He steered Idaho to capture the 2007–08 D-League Championship and was selected to coach at the 2008 NBA Development League All-Star Game. By his departure in 2009, his head coaching record in the D-League stood at an impressive 100–50.
Late 2000s to 2020s
Gates initiated his NBA coaching journey in 2009 as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings. His subsequent roles included assistant coaching positions with the New Orleans Pelicans from 2010 to 2015 and the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2015–2016 season. He returned to the Kings' coaching staff in 2016 before rejoining the Timberwolves in 2019. In 2021, Gates became part of the Phoenix Suns coaching team and took part in the 2022 Rising Stars Challenge. Although slated to join the Dallas Mavericks in 2023, he ultimately accepted an assistant coaching role with the Philadelphia 76ers.
On the international front, Gates led the Beirut Blue Stars in the Lebanese Basketball League during the 2004–2005 season and was appointed as a coach for the Canada men's national basketball team at the 2015 Pan American Games.
Awards and personal life
Gates earned the distinction of NBA G League Coach of the Year twice while leading the Idaho Stampede, receiving the honor in both 2007 and 2008. He is married and has three children.