Dave Joerger
David Joerger | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 21, 1974 United States |
| Occupation | Professional basketball coach |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Known for | Head coach of Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings; assistant coach for Milwaukee Bucks |
David Joerger (pronounced [YAY-ger]; born February 21, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach currently serving as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was the head coach of the Dakota Wizards during two periods, from 2000 to 2004 and again in 2006–2007, guiding teams across the International Basketball Association, Continental Basketball Association, and NBA Development League to titles in 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2007. Joerger also led the Sioux Falls Skyforce from 2004 to 2006, capturing a championship in 2005. His NBA head coaching experience includes tenures with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2013 through 2016 and the Sacramento Kings between 2016 and 2019.
Early coaching career
Joerger’s collegiate playing career was as a point guard at both Concordia College and Moorhead State (Minnesota State University Moorhead). He initially joined the Dakota Wizards of the International Basketball Association as general manager before transitioning to assistant coach in 1997. He was promoted to head coach for the 2000–01 IBA season. Under his leadership, the Wizards posted a 30–10 regular season record and overcame a two-game deficit in the IBA Finals to clinch their inaugural championship by defeating the Des Moines Dragons in a five-game series.
IBA to CBA
Joerger stayed with the Wizards as the IBA merged with other leagues to form the Continental Basketball Association following bankruptcy proceedings involving Isiah Thomas. As a former IBA franchise, Dakota was designated "lower-tier" for the 2001–02 campaign, competing in a shortened schedule alongside two other former IBA teams and an expansion team within the National Conference. Joerger’s squad led the league with a 26–14 record, earning him CBA Coach of the Year recognition. After sweeping the Fargo-Moorhead Beez in three games during conference finals, he secured his first CBA title by edging out the Rockford Lightning 116–109 in a decisive winner-take-all matchup.
The following season, Joerger guided the Wizards to a strong 31–17 regular season finish and advanced to the conference finals before falling to the Yakima Sun Kings in four games. In 2003–04, despite losing six key players to NBA call-ups—including Sean Lampley, Oliver Miller, Kaniel Dickens, Maurice Carter, Eddie Gill, and Rodney Buford—he led Dakota to a league-best 34–14 record and earned his second CBA Coach of the Year award. With Dickens and Carter returning from NBA stints, Joerger’s team defeated Rockford Lightning 3–1 in the semifinals and captured their second CBA championship by narrowly beating the Idaho Stampede 132–129.
Following another championship run and a period coaching USBL’s Cedar Rapids River Raiders, Joerger moved on to lead the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The team had recently missed playoff contention but Joerger quickly revitalized them, finishing with a 31–17 record. In conference finals, Sioux Falls defeated Joerger’s former assistant Casey Owens’ Dakota Wizards in five games before winning the 2004–05 CBA championship by overcoming Rockford Lightning 3–1. The subsequent season saw Joerger guide Sioux Falls to a solid 30–18 record and a perfect 2–0 mark in round-robin playoffs; however, they narrowly fell short of securing another title.
CBA to D-League
In April 2006, the Skyforce, Wizards, and Idaho Stampede made the move from the CBA to join the NBA Development League.[1] The following month, Joerger resumed his role as head coach of the Wizards, guiding them to a league-leading 33–17 record. After receiving a first-round bye, his squad narrowly defeated the Skyforce 115–113 in the semifinals and ultimately secured the championship by overcoming the Colorado 14ers 129–121 in overtime.[2]
Memphis Grizzlies
Boasting five minor league titles, Joerger entered the National Basketball Association as an assistant coach with the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2007–08 season under Marc Iavaroni. He was elevated to lead assistant coach under Lionel Hollins in 2011, focusing primarily on defense and contributing to the team’s defensive efficiency improving from 24th place in 2010 up to second by 2013.[3]
Following Hollins’ exit after guiding the franchise to its inaugural conference finals appearance,[4] Joerger was appointed head coach for the 2013–14 campaign on June 10, 2013.[5] During his rookie season at the helm, he earned Western Conference Coach of the Month accolades twice—in January and April.[6][7]
On May 28, 2014, Joerger secured a three-year contract extension with the team.[8] After completing three seasons as head coach, he was dismissed on May 7, 2016.[9]
Sacramento Kings
Just two days following his departure from Memphis, on May 9, 2016, Joerger was appointed head coach of the Sacramento Kings.[10] He remained in this position until April 11, 2019, when he was relieved of his duties after three seasons without postseason qualifications; nonetheless, his final year marked Sacramento’s strongest regular-season performance since the 2005–06 campaign.[11]
Philadelphia 76ers
On November 9, 2020, Joerger was named an assistant coach for the Philadelphia 76ers, working alongside head coach Doc Rivers. Early in the 2021–22 campaign, he temporarily stepped away from coaching to receive treatment for cancer.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Prior to the start of the 2023–24 NBA season, Joerger took on a consulting role with the Cleveland Cavaliers, providing support to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Milwaukee Bucks
In January 2024, Joerger reunited with Doc Rivers by joining the Milwaukee Bucks as an assistant coach after Rivers was appointed head coach midseason. This reunion continued their previous partnership established in Philadelphia.
Head coaching record
|- | style="text-align:left;"|Memphis | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 50 || 32 || || style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Southwest || 7 || 3 || 4 || || style="text-align:center;"|Eliminated in First round |- | style="text-align:left;"|Memphis | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 55 || 27 || || style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Southwest || 11 || 6 || 5 || || style="text-align:center;"|Exited in Conference semifinals |- | style="text-align:left;"|Memphis | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 42 || 40 || || style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Southwest || 4 || 0 || 4 || || style="text-align:center;"|Defeated in First round |- | style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 32 || 50 || || style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific || — || — || — || — || style="text-align:center;"|Did not qualify for playoffs |- | style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 27 || 55 || || style="text-align:center;"|4th in Pacific || — || — || — || — || style="text-align:center;"|Did not qualify for playoffs |- | style="text-align:left;"|Sacramento | style="text-align:left;"| | 82 || 39 || 43 || || style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Pacific || — || — || — || — || style="text-align:center;"|Did not qualify for playoffs |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career | 492 || 245 || 247 || || || 22 || 9 || 13 || ||
External links
- ↑ D-League means big changes for Wizards
- ↑ Rice to the rescue for Wizards
- ↑ Who's ready to be an NBA head coach?
- ↑ Lionel Hollins, Grizzlies part ways
- ↑ Grizzlies hire Dave Joerger as Head Coach
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ NBA.com, May 9, 2016
- ↑ NBA.com, April 11, 2019