Dick Versace
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Dick Versace (born April 16, 1940 in Fort Bragg, North Carolina) is an American former basketball coach and National Basketball Association executive. He also the first person of Puerto Rican descent to have coached an NBA team.
His parents were Colonel Humbert Joseph Versace and Marie Teresa Rios, a famed Puerto Rican author. The 1960s television sitcom The Flying Nun was based on one of her books.
He has coached both at the collegiate level and in the NBA. Versace began his college coaching career at St. Louis University in 1972, after compiling a 204-66 record at the high school coaching level. He then moved to Michigan State University, where he was heavily involved in the recruitment of Magic Johnson. Versace's first head coaching assignment was at the Jackson Community College in 1976. In the early 1980s, he was head men's basketball coach at Bradley University, where he led the team to the NIT championship and was named National College Coach of the Year by the U.S. Basketball Writers' Association. He later served as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons, and as head coach of the Indiana Pacers for two years, from 1988 through 1990. After leaving the Pacers job, Versace became a sportscaster.
In 1999, Versace was named President of Basketball Operations for the then-Vancouver Grizzlies; in 2002, he assumed the role of General Manager and remained with the team through the end of the 2004-2005 season.
Versace is the brother of Medal of Honor recipient Rocky Versace, who was executed by the Viet Cong in 1965.
Versace is maried to Vicki Versace and has two children, David and Julie, and a stepson.
On October 8, 2007, Versace announced that he would run as a Democrat for the 18th Congressional District seat now held by Republican Congressman Ray Lahood, who is retiring. On December 8, 2007, however, Versace announced that he would not be running due to "unforeseen personal circumstances."
| Preceded by Joe Stowell |
Bradley Head Men's Basketball Coach 1978 – 1986 |
Succeeded by Stan Albeck |
| Preceded by George Irvine |
Indiana Pacers Head Coach 1988 – 1990 |
Succeeded by Bob Hill |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Greater Peoria Sports Hall of Fame
- BasketballReference.com: Dick Versace
- Memphis Grizzlies 2004-05 Media Guide
- Grizzles Announce That Dick Versace is Leaving the Organization
- WEEK-TV: Versace Makes It Official
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