Sidney Lowe is a former American professional basketball player and coach. He played college basketball at North Carolina State University, where he was a member of the 1983 NCAA championship team. Lowe was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the third round of the 1983 NBA draft, but he played most of his professional career in Europe.
After retiring as a player, Lowe began his coaching career as an assistant at his alma mater, North Carolina State. He then served as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Cleveland Cavaliers before being named head coach of the Timberwolves in 1992. Lowe was the first African American head coach in the history of the NBA.
Lowe's tenure as head coach of the Timberwolves was short-lived, as he was fired after just two seasons. He then returned to the college ranks, serving as head coach at his alma mater from 1998 to 2006. Lowe led the Wolfpack to the NCAA tournament in 2002 and 2005, but he was fired after a disappointing 2005-06 season.
After leaving North Carolina State, Lowe returned to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards. He then served as head coach of the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies for one season before returning to the college ranks as an assistant coach at the University of Tennessee.
Lowe's coaching career also includes stints as head coach of the Huntsville Flight of the NBA Development League and the Beijing Ducks of the Chinese Basketball Association. He currently serves as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons.
Throughout his career, Lowe has been known for his defensive prowess as a player and his ability to develop young talent as a coach. He has also been a trailblazer for African American coaches in the NBA, paving the way for future generations of coaches to follow in his footsteps.
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