Matt Nielsen named head coach at Austin Spurs

Former Perth Wildcats lead assistant coach Matt Nielsen has been named the head coach of the Austin Spurs in the NBA G-League.

Nielsen departed the Wildcats following the 2018/19 championship season to continue his coaching career in Texas.

Nielsen helped the Wildcats to the 2016, 2017 and 2019 titles. He also assisted as a big man coach in the 2013/14 championship-winning campaign.

The Austin Spurs, who are affiliated with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, releaed the following statement:

SAN ANTONIO, TX (Nov. 10, 2020) – The Austin Spurs today announced that Matt Nielsen has been named head coach of San Antonio’s G League affiliate. At the same time, the team announced that Tyler Self has been promoted to general manager.

Nielsen, who spent last season as an assistant coach for Austin, becomes the seventh head coach in Austin Spurs history.

Before making the move to Austin, Nielsen, a native of Australia, spent four seasons (2015-19) as an assistant coach with the NBL’s Perth Wildcats where he helped guide the team to three NBL championships. Nielsen began his coaching career in San Antonio, serving as a player development assistant during the 2014-15 season. In addition, he was an assistant coach with San Antonio’s summer league team from 2014-19.

As a 17-year-old, Nielsen made his professional debut with the Sydney Kings in 1995. After nine seasons in the NBL, where he won two championships and was named MVP in 2004, Nielsen moved to Europe, playing nine seasons in Lithuania, Greece and Spain.

Nielsen was a member of the Australian National Team from 1997-2012. He represented the Boomers at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympics and helped guide Australia to the gold medal at the 1997 FIBA Under-21 World Championship.