Gordon Herbert

Gordon Walter Herbert (born February 16, 1959) is a Canadian professional basketball coach and a retired professional basketball player. He is the current head coach of Avtodor of the VTB United League.

Gordon Herbert

Herbert, while coaching in 2015.
Avtodor Saratov
Position	Head coach
League	VTB United League
Personal information
Born	(1959-02-16) February 16, 1959 Penticton, British Columbia
Nationality	Canadian
Listed height	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Career information
College	North Idaho (1977–1979) Idaho (1979–1982)
NBA draft	1982 / Undrafted
Playing career	1982–1994
Position	Small forward
Coaching career	1994–present
Career history
As player:
1982–1985	Hyvinkään Tahko
1985–1988	Turun NMKY
1988–1989	Forssan Koripojat
1989–1991	NMKY Helsinki
1991–1994	Korihait
As coach:
1994–1996	Korihait
1995–1997, 2010	Finland Under-18
1996–1999	Espoon Honka
1999–2000	Oberwart Gunners
2000–2001	s.Oliver Würzburg
2001–2004	Skyliners Frankfurt
2002	Canada (assistant)
2004–2006	Paris Basket Racing
2005–2007	Georgia
2006–2007	Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
2007–2008	Aris
2008–2009	Toronto Raptors (assistant)
2009–2010	Espoon Honka
2010	Espoon Honka (assistant)
2010–2011	Skyliners Frankfurt
2011–2012	Alba Berlin
2013–2020	Skyliners Frankfurt
2018–present	Canada (assistant)
2020–present	Avtodor
Career highlights and awards
As coach FIBA Europe Cup champion (2016) Finnish Cup winner (2009) French Cup winner (2007) German League champion (2004) BBL Coach of the Year (2016) Austrian League Coach of the Year (2000)
Medals Representing  Canada Universiade 1983 Edmonton National team

Playing career

Herbert attended two-year North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene,[1] and transferred to the University of Idaho in Moscow in 1979, where he played college basketball for the Vandals under head coach Don Monson.[2] Prior to his senior season in 1980–81, he injured his wrist and was redshirted; the Vandals were 25–4 and went to the NCAA tournament as Big Sky champions. As a fifth-year senior in 1981–82, Herbert started at forward and Idaho won its first sixteen games, went 24–2 in the regular season, and were sixth in the AP and UPI polls;[3][4] they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen,[5][6][7] and finished with the best record in school history at 27–3. While undefeated at 15–0, an article on the team appeared in Sports Illustrated.[8]

After college, he played professionally in Finland for 12 years with various teams. His club playing career ended in 1994, when he started coaching.

Herbert also played with the senior Canadian national team at the 1984 Summer Olympics, where the team finished just out of the medals, in fourth place. He also played with Canada at the 1986 FIBA World Championship.

Coaching career

Herbert has coached many teams, including Frankfurt Skyliners, with which he won the German League title in 2004. He led the Skyliners to their 3rd German League finals appearance, against the league's first place Brose Bamberg, after beating other top-rated German teams, such as Alba Berlin, in the playoffs. He also coached French teams Paris and Pau Orthez, with which he won the French Cup in the 2006–07 season.

On July 7, 2007, he officially became the head basketball coach of the Greek club Aris. Herbert has also been an assistant coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors.[9] In the 2015–16 season, Herbert won the FIBA Europe Cup with Fraport, after his team defeated Pallacanestro Varese in the Final. Herbert was also named the German Basketball Bundesliga Coach of the Year that season.[10]

Herbert's contract with the Skyliners ended in May 2020.[11]

On July 2, 2020, he has signed with Avtodor of the VTB United League.[12]

Coaching titles

• Skyliners Frankfurt (2001–04, 2010–11, 2013–present):
  • Basketball Bundesliga: 2003–04
  • FIBA Europe Cup: 2015–16
• Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez (2006–07):
  • French Cup: 2006–07
• Espoon Honka (1996–99, 2009–10):
  • Finnish Cup: 2009

See also

• List of foreign NBA coaches

References

1. "Herbert awaiting call from homeland". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 3, 1979. p. 22.
2. "Idaho gets NIC ace". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). May 16, 1979. p. 24.
3. "Vandals No. 6". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). wire services. March 2, 1982. p. 13.
4. "Vandals climb to sixth place in AP national poll". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). wire services. March 3, 1982. p. 1C.
5. Missildine, Harry (March 15, 1982). "Idaho: Next stop, Provo". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. p. 15.
6. Van Sickel, Charlie (March 15, 1982). "Vandals: Sweet Sixteen and..." Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). p. 15.
7. Killen, John (March 15, 1982). "Kellerman's last shot paves way to Provo". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1C.
8. McCallum, Jack (January 25, 1982). "A case of Vandalism in Big Sky country". Sports Illustrated: 20–21.
9. "Raptors:Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment – Management". Retrieved 2009-03-13.
11. "Re-Start auch für Skyliners: Basketball-Bundesliga darf Saison mit Turnier fortsetzen". hessenschau.de. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
12. "Gordie Herbert is the new head coach of Avtodor Saratov". Sportando. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

External links

• FIBA Player Profile
• Euroleague.net Coach Profile