Larry Staverman

Larry Staverman

1st Indiana Pacers Head Coach | ABA & NBA Coach | NBA Executive

Larry Staverman was born on October 11, 1936, in Newport, Kentucky. He was drafted with the 64th overall pick in the 9th round of the 1958 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals. He played 5 seasons in the NBA with the Cincinnati Royals, Chicago Zephyrs / Baltimore Bullets, and Detroit Pistons,

After retiring, Staverman became a coach, notably known for being the first ever Indiana Pacers head coach when they debuted in the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967. After a total of 4 seasons of coaching in the ABA and NBA, he transitioned into the Kansas City front office as their vice president of operations, later joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1981 as an assistant to the team president.

Coach Staverman passed away on July 12, 2007, at the age of 70.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 58-74

Coaching Career

Larry Staverman started his coaching career with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball team at the University of Notre Dame under John Dee. During his time there as an assistant, the team had records of 5–21 and 14-14 respectively with no post-season appearances.

Coach Staverman became the first head coach of the American Basketball Association’s Indiana Pacers. In his first season the team went 38-40, reaching the playoffs, but were eliminated in the Division semi-finals to the Pittsburgh Pipers, who became the 1968 ABA champions later that playoff run.

The following season, after a 2-7 start, the Pacers fired Staverman and replaced him with Bobby Leonard. The Pacers finished with a 44-34 record, reaching the ABA finals, but lost to the Oakland Oaks in 5 games.

Notable Players Coached

  • Roger Brown
    • 3× ABA champion (1970, 1972, 1973)
    • 1970 ABA Playoffs MVP
    • 4× ABA All-Star (1968, 1970–1972)
    • All-ABA First Team (1971)
  • Bob Netolicky
    • 2× ABA champion (1970, 1972)
    • 4× ABA All-Star (1968–1971)
    • All-ABA Second Team (1970)
  • Freddie Lewis
    • 3× ABA champion (1970, 1972, 1973)
    • ABA Playoffs MVP (1972)
    • 3× ABA All-Star (1968, 1972, 1975)
    • ABA All-Star Game MVP (1975)
    • ABA All-Time Team
  • Ron Bonham (2× NBA champion (1965, 1966)
  • Ollie Darden (Future 1970 ABA champion)
  • Mel Daniels
    • 3× ABA champion (1970, 1972, 1973)
    • 2× ABA MVP (1969, 1971)
    • 7× ABA All-Star (1968–1974)
    • ABA All-Star Game MVP (1969)
    • 4× All-ABA First Team (1968–1971)
    • All-ABA Second Team (1973)
    • ABA Rookie of the Year (1968)
    • ABA All-Rookie First Team (1968)
    • 3× ABA rebounding champion (1968, 1969, 1971)
    • ABA All-Time Team
    • No. 34 retired by Indiana Pacers

Coach Staverman became an assistant coach for the Kansas City Kings under Phil Johnson. His fellow assistant coach and scout was Dan Sparks.

Coach Johnson was fired after starting the season with a 13-37 record to start the year. Staverman was named the interim and went 18–27 as the Kings finished in last place in the Western Conference with a 31-51 record. He was replaced by Cotton Fitzsimmons as head coach for the next season but stayed with the Kings as the vice president of operations until he left for the Cleveland Cavaliers as an assistant to the team president in May 1981.

Notable Players Coached

  • Otis Birdsong (4× NBA All-Star & 1981 All-NBA Second Team)
  • Lucius Allen (1971 NBA Champion)
  • Ron Boone
    • ABA champion (1971)
    • 4× ABA All-Star (1971, 1974–1976)
    • ABA All-Rookie First Team (1969)
    • All-ABA First Team (1974)
    • All-ABA Second Team (1975)
    • ABA All-Time Team
  • Scott Wedman (2× NBA champion & 2× NBA All-Star)
  • Sam Lacey (1975 NBA All-Star & No. 44 retired by Sacramento Kings)
  • John Kuester (Future NBA Coach & NBA 2004 Champion as an assistant)