John Loyer’s Path Through the Basketball Coaching Ranks

Loyer played basketball at Northmor High School in Galion, Ohio under John Harris, where as a senior he led the team in scoring. After graduation he played college basketball for the Akron Zips men’s basketball at the University of Ohio under Bob Rupert in his rookie season and Bob Huggins for the remainder of his playing career 4.9 points and 2 assists a game in 4 seasons.

College Coaching Career

After playing college basketball, he became an assistant coach for the Zips under Huggins for 2 seasons. In 1989, Huggins became the head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball at the University of Cincinnati, where Huggins currently has the most coaching wins in school history with 399. Loyer spent 10 seasons as an assistant coach. The team had one of their best runs in school history making multiple post-seasons:

• 1991–92: NCAA Division I Final Four
• 1992–93: NCAA Division I Elite Eight
• 1993–94: NCAA Division I First Round
• 1994–95: NCAA Division I Second Round
• 1995–96: NCAA Division I Elite Eight
• 1996–97: NCAA Division I Second Round
• 1997–98: NCAA Division I Second Round
• 1998–99: NCAA Division I Second Round

One of the notable players Loyer coached was Nick Van Exel, a future NBA sharpshooter and 1998 All-Star selection. After his time with the Bearcats, Loyer became the head coach of Wabash Valley College’s basketball team, his first head coaching job.

NBA Coaching Career

In 2000, Loyer became a video coordinator for the Portland Trail Blazers under Mike Dunleavy Sr. When Maurice Cheeks was hired in 2001, Loyer’s role changed to an advance scout. After 2 seasons in the role, he was promoted to assistant coach under Coach Cheeks. Notably on those Portland rosters were Arvydas Sabonis, Zach Randolph, Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace, Damon Stoudamire, and Dale Davis. Cheeks was fired in 2005 and replaced by the team’s director of personnel (As of 2026, the President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Pacers) Kevin Pritchard for the remainder of the season.

When Cheeks was hired as the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers in 2005, Loyer followed him and became an assistant for the team. Notably Allen Iverson and Andre Iguodala, Chris Webber. Cheeks was fired on December 13, 2008, ending his tenure after 4 seasons. Loyer stayed on the staff for the rest of the season under interim Tony DiLeo.

With Cheeks becoming an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2009, Loyer was hired as an assistant coach for the New Jersey Nets under Lawerence Frank, who had first discovered Loyer’s coaching when he used to observe the Cincinnati Bearcats practices. Frank was later fired in 2009 after starting the season with a 0-16 start record. Loyer was retained by Avery Johnson in 2010, Loyer’s last season with the Nets.

“John was unbelievable, I said, ‘Man, this guy can really coach.” – Lawerence Frank on Loyer’s ability to coach in 2012

Loyer became an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons under Lawerence Frank in 2011, but Frank was again fired, this time replaced by Maurice Cheeks in 2013, and Loyer was retained on his staff. The two would only spend half a season on the bench together as Cheeks was fired on February 9, 2014, Loyer was the interim for the remainder of the season, technically, his second head coaching stint, even if it was for half a season. He finished the season with an 8-24 coaching record, combined with Cheeks’ record, the Pistons finished with a 29-53 record, 11th in the Eastern Conference.

After 27 years as a coach in the college and NBA ranks, Loyer became a pro scout for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2016, later being promoted to Director of Pro Scouting in 2018.

As of 2026, Loyer’s son Foster Loyer is currently the head video coordinator for the Brooklyn Nets, his other son Fletcher is in his senior year at Purdue University playing for the Boilermakers, and his daughter Jersey is a junior playing Volleyball for the women’s team at the University of Butler.

Behind the Coaching has a coach profile for Coach Loyer and his coaching career, detailing notable players he coached, his coaching philosophy, and more.

John Loyer Photo Credit: Arbor to SJ via Wikimedia Commons. Original Photo was enhanced to make the photo clearer.