Lawrence Frank is beginning his first season with the Celtics as an Assistant Coach. He joined the team prior to the start of the 2010-11 season after spending the previous six seasons with the New Jersey Nets as their head coach.
Frank began his NBA coaching career in record-setting style, as he went 13-0 from January 27-February 24, which set a new NBA mark for the most consecutive wins by a head coach to begin a coaching career. The 13-game winning streak was also the longest winning streak of any coach in any of the four major professional sports to begin a career. During the streak, the Nets won six consecutive games on the road, which gave Frank the mark for the most wins by a head coach on the road at the outset of their coaching career. During the first full month of his coaching regime (February), Frank led the Nets to an 11-2 record, which earned him recognition as the NBA Eastern Conference 'Coach of the Month.' The 11-2 mark also established a Nets franchise record for winning percentage in a month with an .846 mark. Frank was having been officially appointed on June 21, 2004, after being tabbed as the interim head coach on January 26, 2004. Prior to his initial head coaching position, Frank had spent three and a half seasons as an assistant coach for the Nets. Lawrence is currently the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference.
In 2004-05, the Nets recovered from a 3-12 start to make their fourth consecutive playoff appearance, notching the 8th seed on the final day of the regular season. The team finished the season winning 14 of their last 18 games, including an 8-2 mark during the month of April. The team's season-ending performance earned Frank April 'Coach of the Month' honors.
During the 2005-06 season, the Nets tied a franchise record by winning 14 consecutive games in March and April (
Frank became the franchise's all-time leader in coaching victories (NBA) in 2006-07, compiling 157 career wins after finishing the season with a 41-41 record. Under Frank's direction, the Nets closed the season with a 7-2 mark, earning Frank NBA Eastern Conference "Coach of the Month" honors for April.
A native of Teaneck,
Prior to joining the Grizzlies, Frank served as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for three seasons under Head Coach Kevin O'Neill. Frank first worked with O'Neill as a staff assistant at Marquette in 1992 and during his tenure, helped lead the Marquette Warriors to two NCAA Tournament berths and a Sweet 16 appearance in 1994.
Frank earned his B.S. in education fromIndiana University in 1992, where he spent four seasons as a manager for the Hoosier basketball team led by Bob Knight. He also holds an M.S. in education administration from Marquette.
Lawrence and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Dillon Grace and Caitlin Elizabeth.