John Wetzel| Assistant Coach
College - Virginia Tech '66
In his 29th season in the NBA as either a player or coach, John Wetzel
is in his fourth year as a Kings assistant coach. Last season, he and
the entire Kings coaching staff served as coaches for the Western Conference
All-Star Team after Sacramento posted the Conference’s best record
at the All-Star Break. It marked the third time in Wetzel’s career
that he was named as an All-Star assistant coach after representing the
Western Conference in 1981 while with Phoenix and in 1991 with Portland.
Wetzel was reunited with Kings Head Coach Rick Adelman in 1998-99, with
whom he spent six seasons in Portland (1988-89 — 1993-94) and two
campaigns in Golden State (1995-96 & 1996-97). While in Portland,
Wetzel helped guide the Trail Blazers to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992.
His coaching experience has proven to be a valuable asset to his current
position, where Wetzel’s main responsibilities include coordinating
advance scouting, reviewing offensive and defensive game plans, and individual
skill work with selected players.
Prior to his years in Portland, Wetzel served as head coach of the Phoenix
Suns in 1987-88 after an eightyear stay (1979-80 — 1986-87) as an
assistant coach with the club. He also worked as an assistant coach with
the New Jersey Nets in 1994-95. In all, 15 of the 21 teams Wetzel has
helped coach, including the past three Kings squads, have reached the
NBA Playoffs, making four Western Conference Finals appearances (1984,
1990, 1991, 1992).
Wetzel enjoyed a seven-year NBA playing career (1967-68 — 1975-76)
after originally being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the eighth
round (#76 overall) of the 1966 NBA Draft. Wetzel did not play his rookie
season due to a broken wrist but began his career with the Lakers in 1967-68.
He was selected by Phoenix in the 1968 NBA Expansion Draft, but then served
two years in the military before returning to the league for the 1970-71
season with the Suns.
The 6-5 guard averaged 3.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists over
his seven-year career. His last season as a player in the league was in
1975-76 when he was a member of the Western Conference Champion Suns who
lost to the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals.
Wetzel earned his bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and science
from Virginia Tech University. He averaged 18.5 points and 8.8 rebounds
per game for the Hokies his senior year (1965-66) and was elected to the
Virginia Tech Basketball Hall of Fame in 1985.
A native of Waynesboro, Virginia, Wetzel and his wife, Diane, who recently
renewed their wedding vows (33 years), have two sons, Mark and Paul. They
enjoy outdoor activities and spending time in the offseason in Hawaii.
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