Tab
Baldwin

Tab Baldwin is one of New Zealand's most successful sporting coaches. Currently faced with the daunting task of replacing Hawkes Bay local legend Paul Henare - Tab Baldwin will be coaching The Hawkes Bay Hawkes for the 2013 National Basketball League season.

Basketball Coach

Baldwin has won more titles than any other coach in league history, guiding the Auckland Stars to five in eight seasons at the helm. His return gives him a chance to regain the lead for career wins - he currently has 203, second only to current Tall Blacks coach Nenad Vucinic.

Prior to returning to New Zealand Tab was coaching the Fujian SBS Xunxing team in the Chinese Basketball Association league. And took Turkish club, Banvitspor, to its first ever playoff appearance making the semi-finals in only its second season in the 1st Division and has coached in Greece and Romania.

Background

Tab Baldwin hails from Jacksonville, Florida. He moved to New Zealand in 1988 after coaching in American universities for five years. Tab coached the Otago Nuggets as a second division side for two years, leading them to first division status in 1990. He joined the Auckland side as assistant coach in 1992, and took over the head coaching reins in 1994. In that year he led the team to its first play-off appearance since 1989, and in 1995, coached Auckland to its first league championship since 1983.

During his time as head coach of the Auckland team, Tab developed a strong media profile and great respect and rapport with the wider community conducting countless television, radio and newspaper interviews.

Tab became New Zealand national coach in 2001 and guided the team to the semi-finals of the 2002 Fiba World Championships in Indianapolis and 10th at the Athens Olympics. In 2006, the Tall Blacks picked up their second Al Ramsey Shield series win against Australia and their first ever defeat of the Boomers on Australian soil.

Awards

On the back of Tab's international success with the Tall Blacks, he was awarded the Halberg Coach of the Year award an unprecedented two times in 2002 and 2003. Tab was also made an Honorary Officer of the Order of Merit in the New Year Honours list, 2003.

Tab has a business background, working in accountancy prior to becoming a basketball coach. He has a Business Degree from the University of Notre Dame.