Tom Hancock (born January 15, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.) is an American basketball player and coach.
The first time the Celtics played in the BBL - the United Kingdom top league - they only managed to win one game.
The Celtics finished the season in the upper half of the league table, and Hancock was chosen to coach the North Team in the BBL All-Star game.
At the presentation night end of the year banquet, co-owner Yaro Martynik said, “We have signed some top quality basketball players in the past, but Tom Hancock has proved to be our best ever signing … He has made a tremendous impact…” In the spring of 1996, the Newcastle Eagles contacted Coach Hancock with an offer to coach the basketball team for the 1996-87 season in the BBL.
Milton Keynes had never had success in the BBL as was reported in BRITBALL labeling the Lions as “The worst franchise of the nineties.”[1] Milton Keynes had not reached the playoffs for the previous eight seasons, but Hancock took charge with a roster he felt he could work with, he guided the team throughout the year with a stint back in America tending to family illness.
Coach Hancock left after the season knowing he would not return unless he had full control over player recruitment.