Neil Cohalan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neil Cohalan (born July 31, 1906, died January 22, 1968) is a former professional basketball coach. He was the first coach of the New York Knickerbockers, and has the distinction of being the winning coach of the very first game played in the Basketball Association of America, the forerunner to the modern NBA. The game, a November 1, 1946 contest between the Knickerbockers and the Toronto Huskies played in famed Maple Leaf Gardens, was won 68-66 by the Knickerbockers.
Prior to his pro career, Cohalan was the coach at Manhattan College from 1929 through 1942. Played college football at Manhattan College.
[edit] External links
- NBA.com. The first game
- BasketballReference.com: Neil Cohalan
- Manhattan College: Neil Cohalan
- Known Deceased Basketball Individuals
Preceded by Initial coach |
New York Knickerbockers Coach 1946–1947 |
Succeeded by Joe Lapchick |