One of the most-respected figures in basketball, Brendan Suhr joined head coach Donnie Jones' staff in August 2010 after spending over 25 years as a coach and executive in the NBA.
Suhr won a pair of NBA titles as an assistant under Chuck Daly in Detroit when the Pistons claimed back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990. He worked as the head scout for the gold-medal winning United States "Dream Team" at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and served as an assistant coach at two NBA All-Star Games (1988, 1992). Suhr has helped the Knights enjoy great success since he joined the UCF staff. The Knights have recorded three 20-victory campaigns and have made two trips to the postseason.
To go along with new look uniforms and the new blacktop court at CFE Arena, the 2013-14 season also marked the first season of play for the Knights in the brand new American Athletic Conference. Taking on some of the most prestigious programs in the nation, including the last two national champions in Connecticut and Louisville, the Knights finished the year on a high note, defeating Houston by 21 points in the regular season finale, topping Temple in the first round of The American Championship in double overtime, and taking top seeded Cincinnati down to the wire before eventually falling 61-58 in the league quarterfinals. Suhr helped Isaiah Sykes continue his development as one of the most versatile players in the country. The senior was selected to the All-AAC Second Team and The American All-Tournament Team after leading the Knights with 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
Suhr helped the Knights go 20-11 in 2012-13 despite facing one of the toughest schedules in program history. UCF picked up a pair of wins over top-50 RPI squads, knocking off Belmont and Southern Miss. Suhr helped two Knights - Sykes and Keith Clanton - garner All-Conference USA honors. Sykes, who was also a league all-defensive team pick, was named to the All-C-USA First Team, while Clanton, who finished his career as the program's all-time leader in rebounds, blocks and games played, earned a spot on the second team. Both Sykes and Clanton received NABC All-District 11 First Team honors, marking the first time in program history that two Knights were named to the all-district squad.
UCF experienced a memorable 2010-11 season. The Knights finished the year 21-12 overall to post just the sixth 20-win campaign since the school moved to the Division I level in 1984. After winning just 15 games the previous season, UCF went 13-0 in non-league play and won its first 14 contests to begin the year. The Knights recorded impressive non-league victories over 16th-ranked Florida, Miami, USF, UMass and Princeton. After knocking off Miami in late December, UCF entered the national rankings for the first time in program history. The Knights spent four total weeks in the rankings, including three weeks with a spot in both national polls. In C-USA play, UCF recorded key victories over UTEP and Southern Miss when both teams were atop the league standings. UCF was invited to participate in the College Basketball Invitational, marking the program's first at-large appearance in the postseason.
In 2011-12, UCF went 22-11 and participated in the postseason National Invitation Tournament for the first time. UCF finished third in the C-USA standings after going 10-6 in league play, where it recorded its first victories over Memphis and UAB. In non-conference play, Suhr helped the Knights post one of the biggest victories in school history. At the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas, UCF rallied to defeat No. 4 UConn, snapping the defending national champions' 16-game winning streak.
Before joining the UCF staff, Suhr focused on speaking and consulting as the founder and president of Off the Court, Inc. He also worked with Kevin Eastman to create and manage Coaching U, a leadership, learning and coaching development group. Additionally, he authored the book "Chuck Daly Coaching U."
Suhr's last role in the NBA came with New York. He served as an assistant coach (2004-05, 2006-08) for the Knicks and also as a scout and director of player personnel (2004-08).
During his time in the NBA, Suhr assisted Basketball Hall of Fame coaches Daly, Hubie Brown and Lenny Wilkens. He also coached Hall of Famers Adrian Dantley, Joe Dumars, Isiah Thomas and Dominique Wilkens. Suhr coached in over 2,500 NBA games. His NBA coaching career began in 1979 with a nine-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks. After briefly serving as the Hawks' assistant general manager, he joined Daly in Detroit from 1988-92. The Pistons posted three 50-win seasons during Suhr's tenure, including a 63-19 campaign in 1988-89.
In 1992, he moved with Daly to the New Jersey Nets for two campaigns (1992-93 through 1993-94). He spent the 1996-97 season as an assistant with the Toronto Raptors.
He is no stranger to the Orlando area, having served as an assistant under Daly with the Magic from 1997-99. For nine years, he served as the vice president of the NBA Coaches Association.
Suhr also has experience in the Continental Basketball Association, serving as president, general manager and head coach of the Grand Rapids Hoops from 1995-97.
He also co-owned the franchise for three years. Suhr, who was recognized as the CBA's Coach of the Year in 1995-96, worked as the league's executive vice president of basketball operations and industry relations.
A native of Fair Lawn, N.J., Suhr began his coaching career on the college level as an assistant at Detroit, before moving to Fairfield. He spent five seasons at Fairfield, and earned his master's degree in education administration in 1979. Suhr played at Montclair State, where he received his undergraduate degree in 1973. Suhr and his wife, Brenda, have two children, BK and Christina.
(updated 9/12/14)