Topic: Alvin Gentry

Alvin Gentry (born November 5, 1954) is an American professional basketball coach, and college basketball player, who has led four different NBA teams. He served as an interim coach for the Miami Heat at the end of the 1995 season, and later coached the Detroit Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers. He is currently the head coach for the Phoenix Suns.

He was born in Shelby, North Carolina, where he grew up, and attended Shelby High School. His first cousin is former NC State and NBA star David Thompson.

Gentry played college basketball at Appalachian State University under Press Maravich and Bobby Cremins. In 1978, he spent one year as a graduate assistant at the University of Colorado. He also was an assistant coach at Baylor University under Gene Iba, in 1980. Gentry served as an assistant at the University of Kansas under Larry Brown, where they won the 1988 NCAA National Championship. After one year, Gentry joined the University of Colorado staff.