Speaker Profile

The 2012-13 NBA Coach of the Year, George Karl most recently served as head coach of the Sacramento Kings from 2015 to 2016. Prior to that, Karl coached the Denver Nuggets for nine seasons, leading the franchise to nine postseason appearances including the 2009 Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. While with the Nuggets, Karl became the seventh NBA coach to record 1,000 career wins.

Karl’s NBA coaching career has included time with the Cleveland Cavaliers (1984-86), Golden State Warriors (1986-88), Seattle SuperSonics (1992-98), Milwaukee Bucks (1998-2003), the Nuggets (2005-13), and the Kings (2015-16). Throughout his career, Karl collected 1,175 wins over 22 winning seasons with a .588 winning percentage. He also led his teams to 22 postseason appearances including the NBA Finals in 1996 with Seattle.
A three-time Continental Basketball Association (CBA) Coach of the Year, Karl began his coaching career with the Montana Golden Nuggets (1980-1983) and later served as head coach of the Albany Patroons (1988-89, 1990-91), both in the CBA. Karl also coached in Europe with Real Madrid (1989-90, 1991-92) and for the U.S. national team during the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

A standout guard at University of North Carolina, Karl helped lead the Tar Heels to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) title in 1970-71 and the NCAA Final Four in 1972. Karl played all five seasons of his professional career with the San Antonio Spurs – first with the ABA (1973-76) and then with the NBA (1976-78).

A two-time cancer survivor, Karl received the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2010 ESPYs and actively supports cancer care programs through the George Karl Foundation.