Frank Hamblen, 1969 (Basketball)
Frank Hamblen was a three-time letterwinner in basketball. He also played one season on the baseball team. He received his degree in radio-television and film in 1969.
He has spent 42 years in pro basketball, starting as a scout for the San Diego Rockets in 1969 and continuing as a scout when they moved to Houston. He then moved behind the bench, serving as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
The longest tenured assistant coach in the National Basketball Association, Hamblen joined the Lakers coaching staff prior to the 1999-2000 season. With his wealth of experience and knowledge of the game, Hamblen has been an integral part of the Lakers success in capturing five championships and making seven NBA Finals appearances during his 11-year run with the team. Serving as an assistant under Phil Jackson from 1996-98 and again from 1999-2004, he was a member of the Bulls' NBA Championship teams in 1997 and 1998 and the Lakers’ NBA Championship teams in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
Hamblen has served as an assistant coach for four All-Star teams and was twice he was tapped to be interim head coach, including with the Bucks early in the 1991-92 season and with the Lakers midway through the 2004-05 season. In addition, he has conducted basketball camps and clinics all over the world, focusing on young players.
At SU, Hamblen was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and was selected to Phi Kappa Alpha senior men’s honorary. The native of Terre Haute, Indiana, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and named to its 1990 Silver Anniversary boys team. He graduated Garfield High as the third-leading scorer behind Terry Dischinger and Clyde Lovellette.
He has been active over the years with Cystic Fibrosis, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a life member of the Varsity Club.
He has spent 42 years in pro basketball, starting as a scout for the San Diego Rockets in 1969 and continuing as a scout when they moved to Houston. He then moved behind the bench, serving as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.
The longest tenured assistant coach in the National Basketball Association, Hamblen joined the Lakers coaching staff prior to the 1999-2000 season. With his wealth of experience and knowledge of the game, Hamblen has been an integral part of the Lakers success in capturing five championships and making seven NBA Finals appearances during his 11-year run with the team. Serving as an assistant under Phil Jackson from 1996-98 and again from 1999-2004, he was a member of the Bulls' NBA Championship teams in 1997 and 1998 and the Lakers’ NBA Championship teams in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010.
Hamblen has served as an assistant coach for four All-Star teams and was twice he was tapped to be interim head coach, including with the Bucks early in the 1991-92 season and with the Lakers midway through the 2004-05 season. In addition, he has conducted basketball camps and clinics all over the world, focusing on young players.
At SU, Hamblen was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and was selected to Phi Kappa Alpha senior men’s honorary. The native of Terre Haute, Indiana, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007 and named to its 1990 Silver Anniversary boys team. He graduated Garfield High as the third-leading scorer behind Terry Dischinger and Clyde Lovellette.
He has been active over the years with Cystic Fibrosis, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a life member of the Varsity Club.
