Wes Unseld Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wes Unseld Jr.

Unseld with the Washington Wizards in 2021
Washington Wizards
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1975-09-20) September 20, 1975 (age 48) Catonsville, Maryland, U.S.
High school	Loyola (Towson, Maryland)
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
College	Johns Hopkins (1994–1997)
NBA Draft	1997 / Undrafted
Coaching career	2005–present
League	NBA
Career history
As coach:
2005–2011	Washington Wizards (assistant)
2011–2012	Golden State Warriors (assistant)
2012–2015	Orlando Magic (assistant)
2015–2021	Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2021–present	Washington Wizards

Westley Sissel Unseld Jr. (born September 20, 1975) is an American professional basketball coach who is the head coach for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is the son of Basketball Hall of Fame player, coach, and executive Wes Unseld.

Early life and education

Unseld was born on September 20, 1975, and grew up in Catonsville, Maryland. At a young age, he developed a close attachment to basketball; his father is Basketball Hall of Fame member Wes Unseld. From the age of five, he was in locker rooms with his father before games, and after drove home with him. As an adult, he remembers "a great family atmosphere in the locker room". He played high school basketball as a center at Loyola Blakefield in Towson, Maryland. Standing at 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m), he played as a small forward during his college basketball career with the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays and graduated in 1997.

Coaching career

Washington Wizards (2005–2011)

Unseld went directly from college to the NBA, starting as a personnel scout for the Washington Wizards, working for his father who was general manager. He had planned to go to graduate school after graduation but decided to give basketball one year to see if he would enjoy it. In his ninth year, after eight years of personnel and advance scouting, he was promoted to assistant coach. Unseld has been given credit for creating Washington's offensive game plan, which led to three consecutive top-ten offensive seasons from 2004 to 2007. He also worked as a scout and assistant coach for the Washington Mystics of the WNBA.

Golden State Warriors (2011–2012)

In 2011, Unseld Jr. left the Wizards for the Golden State Warriors after being denied a position as a front row bench coach.

Orlando Magic (2012–2015)

After one season with the Warriors, Unseld went to the Orlando Magic as an assistant coach in 2012. After a 15–37 start to the 2014–2015 season Unseld was fired, along with coach Jacque Vaughn, in February, 2015.

Denver Nuggets (2015–2021)

When his lifelong friend, Tim Connelly, became general manager of the Denver Nuggets in 2015, he offered Unseld a job as an assistant coach. In 2016 he was made lead assistant coach. His special assignment had been to manage a defense that had been poor; the Nuggets went from 28th in defense in 2017–18 to 10th in the 2018–19 season. He has been credited with the development of Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, and Michael Porter Jr. In 2019, he interviewed for the vacant Cleveland Cavaliers head coaching job, but did not get the job. From 2018 until 2021, Denver ranked among the top six in defensive efficiency.

Return to the Wizards (2021–present)

Unseld Jr. signed a four-year contract to become the head coach of the Washington Wizards on July 17, 2021.

Personal life

Unseld is married with two children. The family resides in Potomac, Maryland.

Head coaching record

See also

In Spanish: Wes Unseld Jr. para niños