Mike Fratello, winner of 667 games during a 16 seasons NBA head coaching career. He is a professional basketball coach and currently worked as a sports broadcaster for YES Network. He is popularly known with his nickname “The CZAR”.
Previously, he served as the head coach for Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA.
Fratello was born on February 24, 1947, in North Haledon, New Jersey. He is of American nationality and of Italian descent.
Fratello was born to Vincent and Marie Fratello. In the high school, he was a gifted footballer, hockey player and excelled in the game of field. However, on the game of basketball, he was even a bigger star.
Upon high school graduation, Fratello worked as a college basketball assistant under Lou Campanelli and served as an assistant coach at Villanova before serving as an assistant coach for Atlanta Hawks during Hubie Brown tenure.
Fratello served as the head coach of Atlanta Hawks (1983-1990), Cleveland Cavaliers (1993-1999), and Memphis Grizzlies (2004-06). As a head coach in the NBA, Fratello has a record 667-548 and ranks #19 on the NBA all-time wins list and #21 for the total regular season game coached.
During 1986-87, Fratello was named Coach of the Year by different organizations including NBA/Hagger, The Sporting News, NBA/Miller Lite, Basketball Weekly, and Basketball Digest.
Fratello also served as the head coach for the Ukraine national basketball team and led the team to their first ever FIBA World Cup appearance.
Fratello joined YES Network as a color commentator in 2008 and teamed up with popular play-by-play announcers Marv Albert and Ian Eagle for Nets broadcasts.
Due to his remarkable contributions on YES, Fratello bagged Emmy Award nomination in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Fratello married his long-term girlfriend after having an affair with her. He has not revealed much more info about his wife. He met his life partner at the University, where he served as an assistant basketball coach, and she used to study there.
Since getting married to till date, he is satisfied with his wife. Currently, the relationship between them is as smooth as silk and very less chance of divorce to occur in the future.
Fratello has two children, a son named Marc and a daughter, Kristi. Unlike other celebs, his career has not affected by any kind of controversy.
Despite in the seventies, Fratello looks and young and handsome. He has an average height of 5 feet 6 inches, which is around 1.7m.
Fratello is one of the most desirable names in the world of basketball. He is receiving a handsome salary and collected a huge amount of assets and properties through his earnings.
Fratello bought a luxurious mansion in the year 2001 worth of $2 million dollars. He has a whopping net worth of $12 million.
