Coach Profile: Chad Forcier
Learn about the current Phoenix Suns assistant coach and his coaching career that spans over 30 years.
Chad Forcier is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns, best known for his player development experience.
In this article, you’ll learn about Chad Forcier, a 2x NBA champion and veteran assistant coach whose career spans over 30 years.
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Seattle SuperSonics
Forcier started his NBA coaching career on the SuperSonics under George Karl as an intern. Karl himself was an influence, but the assistant coaches on the staff also had an impact on Forcier including:
Terry Stotts (Offensive Minded coach who later became the head coach of the Bucks, Hawks, and Trailblazers).
Dwane Casey (Defensive Minded coach who later became the head coach of the Timberwolves, Raptors, and Pistons).
Tim Grgurich (Former University of Pittsburg and University of Nevada, Las Vegas men’s basketball head coach).
All 3 of these assistant coaches also share one thing in common, they would later become NBA champions with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 as assistant coaches under Rick Carlisle.
Detroit Pistons (2001-2003)
In 2001, Forcier got his first assistant coach job in the NBA with the Detroit Pistons under head coach Rick Carlisle. In their first season, the team went 50-32 and reached the eastern conference semi-finals, losing to the Celtics 4-1. Interestingly enough, the next season, they finished with the exact record and were once again the division champions, but lost in the first round, this time to the New Jersey Nets 4-0.
Despite the improvement of the Pistons in two seasons, Rick Carlisle was fired and was replaced with Larry Brown. Forcier had coached players such as Jerry Stackhouse, Ben Wallace, Clifford Robinson, Corliss Williamson, and Dana Borros.
Indiana Pacers (2003-2007)
Following Rick Carlisle to Indiana, Forcier was now on his second stint in the NBA. The Pacers went 61–21 in Carlisle’s first year and were the division champions, losing in the eastern conference finals to the Pistons 4-2.
The Basketball Brawl
At the 0:18 timestamp, you can see Chad Forcier witness what’s about to happen.
During the 2004-2005 season, on November 19, 2004, the Pacers went against Larry Brown’s Detroit Pistons, Ron Artest was fouled hard by Ben Wallace, he confronted him which caused Wallace to push him back. Artest attempted to retreat to the scorer’s table in an effort to not be involved in a further escalation. A Pistons fan by the name of “John Green” threw a cup of beer at Artest, which was the final straw for him as he charged into the stands and grabbed a fan who he mistook for the culprit. Meanwhile Stephen Jackson followed Artest into the stands, Jermaine O’Neal struck a fan who ran onto the court, and Jamaal Tinsley picked up a long-handled dustpan in order to use as a weapon but was never used. The Pacers lost the game 97–82.
The aftermath resulted in Artest being suspended for the remainder of the regular season including any playoff games, Stephen Jackson suspended for 30 games, Jermaine O'Neal 25 games (which was reduced to 15 games), Ben Wallace was hit with 6 games, and Anthony Johnson with 5 games. Criminal charges had followed with O'Neal being charged with two counts of assault and battery, while Artest, Jackson, and Johnson were charged with one count each.
The Pacers later traded Stephen Jackson, which plummeted the team’s standings, resulting in a 35-47 record and missing the playoffs since 1997. Rick Carlisle was fired after the season. Forcier had coached players such as Reggie Miller, Ron Artest, Jeff Foster, Jermaine O’Neal, and Fred Jones.
San Antonio Spurs (2007-2016)
In 2007, Forcier would become an assistant coach for Gregg Popovich in San Antonio after PJ Carlesimo accepted the SuperSonics head coaching job. He had an existing friendship with Budenholzer when they first met at Pete Newell’s Big Men’s Camp. He credits Budenholzer’s relationship with part of the reason he was hired in San Antonio.
The Spurs continued their playoff streak and in 2014, the Spurs won the championship. Which was the Spurs fifth, and Forcier’s first.
Forcier coached NBA legends in Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginóbili, and worked closely with Kawhi Leonard. He’s also worked with veteran assistants and future head coaches in Mike Budenholzer, Brett Brown, Don Newman, Jim Boylen, Jacque Vaughn, Will Hardy, and legendary shooting coach Chip Engelland.
Orlando Magic (2016-2018)
In 2016, Forcier was named the associate head coach for Frank Vogel’s coaching staff in Orlando. Amongst the players he had coached were Nikola Vučević, Aaron Gordon, and Rookie Johnathan Issac. One of his fellow assistant coaches was Corliss Williamson, who played for the Pistons during Forcier’s days in Detroit.
The 2016-2017 Orlando Magic season ended with a 29–53 record, leaving them in 13th place of the Eastern Conference with them missing the playoffs. The 2017-2018 season resulted in a worse position leaving them in 14th place of the conference with a record of 25–57, another year without a playoff appearance.
After failing to make the playoffs in both years extending the team’s playoff drought to 6 consecutive years, the Magic fired Frank Vogel after the 2018 season.
Memphis Grizzlies (2018-2019)
Moving to Memphis, Forcier was named as the associate head coach for J.B. Bickerstaff, who was going in his first full year as the Grizzlies head coach after serving as the interim after David Fizdale’s firing.
The Grizzlies finished the season 12th in the eastern conference with a 33–49 record, missing the playoffs. Coach Bickerstaff was fired after one full season as the head coach.
Milwaukee Bucks (2019-2023)
Forcier reunited with Mike Budenholzer, joining his staff on the Milwaukee Bucks. He coached the talents of 2x MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and All Stars Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez.
The Bucks made the playoffs in every year Budenholzer was the head coach and won a championship in 2021 after defeating the Phoenix Suns in the finals 4-2, the Bucks second championship and Forcier’s second overall.
Coach Budenholzer was fired in 2023 after losing to the Miami Heat in the first round 4-1.
Utah Jazz (2023-2024)
Forcier then joined Will Hardy‘s coaching staff in Utah, Hardy and Forcier were assistant coaches together in San Antonio during the 2014-2015 season.
Phoenix Suns (2024-)
Forcier once again reunited with Mike Budenholzer on his staff in Phoenix. Suns General Manager James Jones was a player under Forcier in Indiana.
As of January 11, 2025, the 2024-2025 season is still ongoing.
Chad Forcier is one the NBA’s longest tenured coaches who has made an impact everywhere he goes, not just as a mentor and teacher to the players, but to his fellow coaches and the next generation.