Eddie Malanowicz
Rochester Royals Assistant Coach | 1951 NBA Champion | Former NBL Head Coach
Eddie Malanowicz was born on December 30, 1910, in Buffalo, New York. He attended the University at Buffalo, where he played both basketball and football and served as a team captain in both sports.
Malanowicz later became head coach of the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1946 NBL championship. When Les Harrison took over as head coach, Malanowicz remained with the franchise as an assistant.
He served as a Royals assistant from 1948 through 1951 as Rochester moved into the BAA and then the NBA. His final season on the staff ended with the Royals winning the 1951 NBA championship.
Coach Malanowicz passed away on September 5, 1967, at the age of 56.
- Overall Coaching Record: Assistant Coach (No BAA/NBA Head Coaching Record)
Coaching Career
Eddie Malanowicz served as an assistant coach for the Rochester Royals under head coach Les Harrison beginning with the 1948-1949 BAA season.
Rochester went 45-15 in 1948-1949 and finished first in the Western Division. The Royals swept the St. Louis Bombers in the Division Semifinals before losing to the Minneapolis Lakers in the Western Division Finals.
The Royals followed with a 51-17 record during the 1949-1950 NBA season but were eliminated by the Fort Wayne Pistons in the Central Division Semifinals.
In 1950-1951, Rochester finished 41-27 and defeated Fort Wayne and Minneapolis to reach the NBA Finals. The Royals defeated the New York Knicks in 7 games to win the first NBA championship in franchise history.
The 1950-1951 championship season became Malanowicz’s final season as a documented BAA/NBA assistant coach.
Notable Players Coached
- Bob Davies
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1951 NBA champion
- 4× NBA All-Star
- Arnie Risen
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA champion
- 4× NBA All-Star
- Bobby Wanzer
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1951 NBA champion
- 5× NBA All-Star