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Coaching History

Team History | NBA Call-Ups | Assignment Players | Coaching History

Miles Simon, Head Coach of the South Bay Lakers, looks on Miles Simon

Tenure: 2021-present


Highlights

  • Spent four seasons as an assistant coach with Los Angeles, having been a member of the 2020 NBA Championship staff under Head Coach Frank Vogel

  • Twice coached the Lakers summer league teams, leading the team to a championship game berth for the second consecutive summer in 2018, after taking home the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League title as an assistant on the staff

  • Since joining the Lakers, Simon has at times been responsible for the pre-draft workout process and has assisted with the offseason development programs for current Lakers players

  • Served as head coach of the 2017 USA Junior National Select Team for the Nike Hoops Summit, leading the USA to a victory over the World Select Team

  • Simon spent three seasons (2005-08) as an assistant coach at Arizona on Lute Olson’s staff

Other Coaching Experience:
NBA LA Lakers

Coby Karl

Tenure: 2016-2020


Highlights

  • A former player for the Los Angeles Lakers and D-Fenders, Karl was officially announced as the team’s head coach on Sept. 12, 2016.

  • Finished with a 34-16 mark in his first season, the second-best mark in team history. L.A. also set a team record with an 18-7 mark in road games.

  • Guided the D-Fenders to a 24-6 start to begin his first season, tying the 2009-10 Iowa Energy for the best 30-game start in NBA D-League history

  • Coached NBA D-League MVP Vander Blue, along with all-stars Justin Harper and Josh Magette; Was named as head coach of the 2017 NBA D-League Western Conference Team

  • Produced call-ups David Nwaba (Lakers) and Justin Harper (76ers), while helping to develop Lakers assignee Ivica Zubac

Other Coaching Experience:
Westchester Knicks, NBA D-League

Head coach Casey Owens of the Los Angeles D-Fenders on the sidelineCasey Owens

Tenure: 2015-16

Overall Record: 27-23; 5-4 in playoffs

Highlights

  • Owens was named head coach of the D-Fenders on Aug. 4, 2015.

  • Under Owens’ direction, the D-Fenders were one win away from taking the 2016 NBA D-League title, falling in three games to the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the NBA D-League Finals.

  • The D-Fenders put together a franchise-record 14-game home winning streak

  • Coached NBA Call-Up players Justin Harper and Jeff Ayres, while helping to develop Lakers assignees Anthony Brown, Ryan Kelly and Tarik Black

  • Led two NBA D-League All-Stars in Harper and Vander Blue

Other Coaching Experience:

Los Angeles Lakers, NBA; Dakota Wizards, CBA; Colorado 14ers, NBA D-League; Shanghai Sharks, Chinese
Basketball Association; Xinjiang Flying Tigers, Chinese Basketball Association; Fujiban Sturgeons,
Chinese Basketball Association; Guaiqueries de Margarita, Liga Profesional de Baloncesto [Venezuela]

Head coach Connor Henry of the Fort Wayne Mad Ants coachesConnor Henry
Tenure: 2015

Highlights

  • On June 10, 2015, Henry was named head coach of the D-Fenders.

  • On June 25, he left for a role as an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic.

Other Coaching Experience:
Claremont McKenna, NCAA; Perth Wildcats, NBL; Fort Wayne Mad Ants, NBA D-League

Head coach Phil Hubbard of the Los Angeles D-Fenders calls out the playPhil Hubbard
Tenure: 2014-15
Overall Record: 17-33

Highlights

  • Hubbard was hired as head coach of the D-Fenders on Aug. 28, 2014.

  • The D-Fenders set the D-League single-game scoring record by beating Reno, 175-152. L.A. also broke the marks for points in a quarter (56) and half (94).

  • Coached NBA Call-Up players Jabari Brown, Vander Blue and Jamaal Franklin, and helped develop Lakers assignees Jordan Clarkson, Xavier Henry, Tarik Black and Ryan Kelly

  • Led NBA D-League All-Star selections Brown, Blue and Roscoe Smith

Other Coaching Experience:
Los Angeles Lakers, NBA; Stanford University, NCAA; Utah Flash, NBA D-League

Bob MacKinnon, head coach of the Los Angeles D-Fenders calls out a playBob MacKinnon
Tenure: 2013-14
Overall Record: 31-19; 0-2 in playoffs

Highlights

  • Coached NBA Call-Up players Manny Harris, James Southerland, Malcolm Thomas and Shawne Williams, while helping to develop Lakers assignees Elias Harris, Xavier Henry and Ryan Kelly

  • Led NBA D-League All-Stars Manny Harris and Malcolm Thomas

Other Coaching Experience:
Texas Legends, NBA D-League; Springfield Armor, NBA D-League; Tianjin Ronggang, Chinese Basketball
Association; Idaho Stampede, NBA D-League; Colorado 14ers, NBA D-League; Merchant, NCAA D-III

The Los Angeles D-Fenders announce Mark Madsen as coach of the D-FendersMark Madsen

Tenure: 2013


Highlights

  • Madsen was named head coach of the D-Fenders on May 13, 2013.

  • On July 19, he left the team for a role as a player development coach for the Lakers.

Other Coaching Experience:
Los Angeles Lakers, NBA; Stanford University, NCAA; Utah Flash, NBA D-League

Head coach Reggie Theus of the Los Angeles D-Fenders leads his team from the benchReggie Theus
Tenure: 2012-13
Overall Record: 21-29

Highlights

  • Guided the D-Fenders to their first triple-overtime game win in franchise history against the Reno Bighorns, 134-124, on Dec. 15, 2012.

  • Coached NBA Call-Up players Lazar Hayward and Malcolm Thomas, while helping to develop Lakers assignees Darius Johnson-Odom, Darius Morris and Robert Sacre.

  • Led NBA D-League All-Star selection Cortney Fortson

Other Coaching Experience:
Cal State Northridge, NCAA; Sacramento Kings, NBA; New Mexico State, NCAA; Las Vegas Slam, ABA

Head Coach, Eric Musselman of the Los Angeles D-Fenders meets with his team before the gameEric Musselman
Tenure: 2011-12
Overall Record: 38-12; 5-2 in playoffs

Highlights

  • Guided the D-Fenders to a league best 38-12 regular season record en route to their first NBA D-League Finals appearance. L.A. fell in three games to the Austin Toros.

  • Coached NBA Call-Up players Courtney Fortson, Gerald Green, Jamario Moon, Ishmael Smith, Jamaal Tinsley and Malcolm Thomas, while helping to develop Lakers assignees Derrick Caracter, Devin Ebanks, Christian Eyenga, Andrew Goudelock, Darius Morris and Thomas.

  • Earned the NBA D-League Coach of the Year award, the only time a D-Fenders coach has been awarded with the honor

  • The D-Fenders front office earned the league’s first-ever NBA Development League Championship Award during his tenure, an annual recognition given to the team that best embodies the NBA D-League’s goal of developing NBA basketball talent via call-ups and/or assignments.

Other Coaching Experience:
Arizona State, NCAA; Venezuela National Basketball Team; Reno Bighorns, NBA D-League; Dominican National
Team; U.S. 2011 Team, Adidas Global Experience; Team China, Adidas Global Experience; Sacramento Kings,
NBA; Golden State Warriors, NBA; Florida/West Palm Beach Dogs, USBL; Florida Sharks, USBL; Rapid City
Thrillers, CBA

Head coach Chucky Brown of the Los Angeles D-Fenders looks on from the sidelineChucky Brown
Tenure: 2009-10
Overall Record: 16-34

Highlights

  • Led NBA D-League All-Stars Joe Crawford and Diamon Simpson

Other Coaching Experience:
Roanoke Dazzle, NBA D-League; Raleigh Knights, WBA

Head coach Dan Panaggio of the Los Angeles D-Fenders discusses playDan Panaggio
Tenure: 2006-09
Overall Record: 74-76; 1-1 in playoffs

Highlights

  • Guided the D-Fenders to their first playoff berth in 2008, falling to the Idaho Stampede in the NBA D-League Semifinals

  • Coached the franchise’s first-ever NBA Call-Up players in Stephane Lasme, Jelani McCoy and Joe Crawford, while working with Lakers assignees Jordan Farmar, Coby Karl and Sun Yue

Other Coaching Experience:
Phoenix Suns, NBA; Marquette, NCAA; Portland Trail Blazers, NBA; Indiana University, NCAA; Quad City
Thunder, CBA