The following is a list of general managers, head coaches, and assistant coaches of Asian heritage in sports leagues in the United States and Canada, including the Big Four, other professional leagues and the collegiate NCAA. Some of the appointments listed below made into the list of Asian-American firsts.
Existing Asian coaches reflect that problems of race and sports especially "Asian stereotypes exist at all levels of basketball", which contributes to a factor why there has been a lack of Asian coaches in NCAA basketball. The Asian Coaches Association is the most prominent association representing the causes of Asian basketball coaches.
Women of Asian heritage coaching men's teams in particular encounter stereotypes. In 1998, Kim Ng recalled "she has been treated with kid gloves since being named an assistant GM with the Yankees."
List denotes women coaching or overseeing a men's team.
NameTitleLeagueClubFromUntilNotes Dave Yanai Head coach NAIA / NCAA D-II Basketball Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros and Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles 1977 2005 Erik Spoelstra Assistant coach NBA Miami Heat 1997 April 2008 Filipino descent from mother's sideKim Ng Asst. General ManagerMLBNew York YankeesMarch 19982001Kim Ng Asst. General ManagerMLBLos Angeles Dodgers2002March 2011 Erik Spoelstra Head coach NBA Miami Heat April 2008 present * First Filipino head coach Don Wakamatsu Field manager MLB Seattle Mariners November 2008 August 2010 First field manager of Asian descent in Major League BaseballRich ChoGeneral managerNBAPortland Trail BlazersJuly 2010May 2011 First Asian G.M. in Big Four leaguesRich ChoGeneral managerNBACharlotte HornetsJune 2011February 2018 Norm ChowHead coachNCAA Division I Football Bowl SubdivisionHawaii Rainbow WarriorsDecember 2011November 2015Matt OkadaAssociate Head CoachNCAA D-II BasketballDominican PenguinsAugust 2021present *Asami MoritaHead CoachNCAA D-II BasketballWestminster GriffinsMay 2023present *First full Japanese head coach of an NCAA or four-year program Jonathan YimPlayer Development CoachNBA Portland Trail Blazers20132021Shenton WaiAsst. coachNCAA D-I BasketballUTSA RoadrunnersJune 2015March 2016Dave RobertsField managerMLBLos Angeles DodgersNovember 2015present *First field manager of Asian heritage to lead team to the World SeriesJeff HironakaHead coachNCAA D-II BasketballSeattle Pacific Falcons and Colorado Christian Cougars2002March 2020Bobby WebsterGeneral managerNBA Toronto RaptorsJune 2017present *Japanese descent from mother's side; only NBA G.M. presently* of Asian heritageNatalie Nakase Asst. coachNBALos Angeles ClippersAugust 2018June 2020 Don Wakamatsu Field manager (interim) MLB Texas Rangers September 2018 October 2018Mike MagpayoHead coachNCAA D-I BasketballUC Riverside HighlandersJuly 2020March 2025First NCAA Division I head coach of Asian heritageRex WaltersAssistant CoachNBA BasketballNew Orleans Pelicans 2020 2021First NCAA Division I half-Japanese (half German) player for Northwestern University and University of Kansas Final Four Team (1992-1993) and a draft pick of New Jersey Nets in 1993 NBA Draft. Coached San Francisco Dons, assistant coach with Detroit Pistons.Kim Ng General managerMLBMiami MarlinsNovember 2020October 2023First female G.M. (irrespective of ethnicity) in Big Four leaguesMarcus FreemanHead CoachNCAA Division I Football Bowl SubdivisionNotre Dame Fighting IrishDecember 2021present *Korean descent from mother's side. First NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision head coach of Korean heritageNatalie NakaseAsst. coachWNBALas Vegas AcesFebruary 2022October 2024Rex WaltersAssistant CoachNBA BasketballCharlotte Hornets 2022 2024Sean DesaiDefensive CoordinatorNFLPhiladelphia EaglesFebruary 2023January 2024First NFL coordinator of Indian descent. In 2010, he was also the youngest coordinator in Division I for Temple Owls football. Natalie NakaseHead CoachWNBAGolden State ValkyriesOctober 2024present *First WNBA head coach of Asian-American heritageMike MagpayoHead coachNCAA D-I BasketballFordham RamsMarch 2025present *Hao MengAsst. General ManagerNBASan Antonio SpursSeptember 2025present *Kurt SuzukiField ManagerMLBLos Angeles AngelsOctober 2025present * * denotes present up to December 2021
See also Asian Americans in sports List of Asian-American firsts Race and sports Terminology General manager (NBA) General manager (MLB) Field manager (MLB)
References