Steve Hetzel
{{short description|American basketball coach}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Steve Hetzel
| image = Steve Hetzel (XXBqvhNHWu0).png
| width =
| caption = Hetzel during the 2024 NBA Summer League
| team = Brooklyn Nets
| position = Assistant coach
| league = NBA
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Allen Park, Michigan, U.S.
| high_school =
| college = Michigan State
| coach_start = 2009
| cyears1 = {{nbay|2009|start}}–{{nbay|2012|end}}
| cteam1 = Detroit Pistons (player development coach)
| cyears2 = 2013–2014
| cteam2 = Canton Charge
| cyears3 = {{nbay|2014|start}}–{{nbay|2017|end}}
| cteam3 = Charlotte Hornets (assistant)
| cyears4 = {{nbay|2018|start}}–{{nbay|2020|end}}
| cteam4 = Orlando Magic (assistant)
| cyears5 = {{nbay|2021|start}}–{{nbay|2023|end}}
| cteam5 = Portland Trail Blazers (assistant)
| cyears6 = {{nbay|2024|start}}–present
| cteam6 = Brooklyn Nets (assistant)
}}
Steve Hetzel is an American professional basketball coach who is an assistant coach for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Coaching career
Hetzel began his career in the NBA as an assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs during the 2005–2006 season under head coach Gregg Popovich.{{cite web|url=https://netswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/27/who-is-nets-assistant-coach-steve-hetzel/|title=Who is Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel?|date=April 27, 2024|work=Nets Wire USA Today|access-date=April 28, 2024}} He later worked as the video coordinator for the Cleveland Cavaliers for three seasons from 2006 to 2009 under head coach Mike Brown.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/features/hetzel-130912|title=All in the Family|date=September 11, 2013|work=Cleveland Cavaliers|access-date=April 29, 2024}}
Hetzel earned his first coaching position with the Detroit Pistons in 2009, spending four seasons as a player development coach until 2013.{{cite web|url=https://netswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/21/report-nets-to-hire-steve-hetzel-as-assistant-coach/|title=Report: Nets to hire Steve Hetzel as assistant coach|date=April 21, 2024|work=Nets Wire USA Today|access-date=May 1, 2024}} As a player development coach in Detroit, Hetzel was responsible for creating player progression plans and monitoring player growth.{{cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2019/05/11/magic-assistant-steve-hetzel-interviews-for-cavaliers-head-coaching-position/|title=Magic assistant Steve Hetzel interviews for Cavaliers head coaching position|date=May 11, 2019|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=May 1, 2024}}
In 2013, Hetzel became the head coach of the Canton Charge of the NBA G-League, the G-League affiliate of the Cleveland Cavaliers.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/cavaliers/releases/hetzel-charge-coach-130911|title=Steve Hetzel Named Head Coach of the Canton Charge|date=September 11, 2013|work=Cleveland Cavaliers|access-date=April 28, 2024}} He replaced D-League coach of the year Alex Jensen, who left to become a development coach for the Utah Jazz.{{cite web|url=https://www.morningjournal.com/2013/09/11/cavaliers-name-steve-hetzel-coach-of-canton-charge/|title=Cavaliers name Steve Hetzel coach of Canton Charge|date=September 11, 2013|work=The Morning Journal|access-date=April 30, 2024}} Hetzel served one season as head coach of the Charge leading the team to a 28–22 record in his lone season.
Hetzel earned his first assistant coaching job in the NBA in 2014, being hired by the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant coach under head coach Steve Clifford.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/hornets/hetzel-named-assistant-coach|title=Hetzel Named Assistant Coach|date=June 18, 2014|work=Charlotte Hornets|access-date=May 1, 2024}} He worked with the Hornets until 2018 when he was hired by the Orlando Magic where he worked from 2018 until 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.blazersedge.com/2024/4/21/24136508/portland-trail-blazers-brooklyn-nets-steve-hetzel-jordi-fernandez-coaching-hire-sacramento-kings|title=Blazers Assistant Steve Hetzel to Leave for Brooklyn Nets|date=April 21, 2024|work=Blazer's Edge SB Nation|access-date=May 1, 2024}}
In 2022, Hetzel coached the Portland Trail Blazers summer league team to the 2022 NBA Summer League championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2024/04/assistant-coach-steve-hetzel-leaves-trail-blazers-to-join-brooklyn-nets-coaching-staff.html|title=Assistant coach Steve Hetzel leaves Trail Blazers to join Brooklyn Nets coaching staff|date=April 22, 2024|work=Oregon Live|access-date=May 1, 2024}} He was named an assistant coach for the Trail Blazers under head coach Chauncey Billups for the 2021–22 season and spent three seasons in Portland.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/trail-blazers-announce-coaching-staff-additions|title=Trail Blazers Announce Coaching Staff Additions|date=August 2, 2021|work=Portland Trail Blazers|access-date=May 1, 2024}}
On April 21, 2024, it was reported that Hetzel would be joining the Brooklyn Nets as an assistant coach under new head coach Jordi Fernández.{{cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2024/04/21/sports/new-nets-coach-jordi-fernandez-adding-steve-hetzel-to-staff/|title=New Nets coach Jordi Fernandez adding Blazers assistant Steve Hetzel to staff|date=April 21, 2024|work=New York Post|access-date=April 28, 2024}} The hiring was officially announced by the Nets on May 31, 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/nets/news/brooklyn-nets-name-hetzel-howard-dulkys-griffin-and-bader-to-coaching-staff|title=Brooklyn Nets Name Hetzel, Howard, Dulkys, Griffin and Bader to Coaching Staff|date=May 31, 2024|work=Brooklyn Nets|access-date=May 31, 2024}}
Personal life
Hetzel is a native of Allen Park, Michigan. Hetzel graduated from Michigan State University in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://nbacoaches.com/steve-hetzel/|title=STEVE HETZEL|work=National Basketball Coaches Association|date=15 October 2022 |access-date=May 1, 2024}} At Michigan State, Hetzel majored in kinesiology and was a student manager for the Michigan State Spartans under head coach Tom Izzo from 2003 to 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.cantonrep.com/story/sports/2013/09/18/new-charge-head-coach-steve/42092410007/|title=New Charge head coach Steve Hetzel's résumé is no light read|date=September 18, 2013|work=CantonRep.com|access-date=April 30, 2024}} He is married to his wife Anne and has three children, Aden, Selah, and Jackie.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Brooklyn Nets current roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hetzel, Steve}}
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:Basketball coaches from Michigan
Category:Charlotte Hornets assistant coaches
Category:Detroit Pistons assistant coaches
Category:Michigan State University alumni