El SEGUNDO – Frank Hamblen, former head coach and assistant coach for the Lakers, passed away this morning in Del Mar, California.
Hamblen, who was a member of the Lakers coaching staff from 1999-2011, served as an assistant coach under Phil Jackson from 1999-2004 and again from 2005-2011, helping lead the team to five NBA championships (2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010). During the 2004-05 season, Hamblen was the top assistant to Lakers head coach Rudy Tomjanovich and assumed the position of head coach in February of 2005 after Tomjanovich stepped down from the role. Prior to his stint with the Lakers, Hamblen spent three seasons (1996-1999) as an assistant coach with the Bulls where he helped lead the team to two NBA Championships (1997, 1998).