Career
He has coached several teams in both leagues, and has an overall coaching record of 371-508. He returned to the team, now in San Antonio, in 1973, bringing with him "a patterned, deliberate offense to San Antonio". During his tenure, the "Iceman" George Gervin had arrived from the Virginia Squires and was the center of the team
Though Nissalke"s club was successful, he was fired in the beginning of the 1974-1975 American Bar Association season.
Nissalke, who is a graduate of Florida State University, first got his start in coaching on the high school-prep level at the Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He later worked his way onto the college ranks at the University of Wisconsin and Tulane.
Early pro coaching career
Nissalke then went to Utah with the American Bar Association"s Stars, but the club folded, surprisingly, at mid-season in the American Bar Association"s last hurrah in 1975-1976. According to Remember the American Bar Association, he has the final game ball in his closet.
Later coaching career
He was also the commissioner of the short-lived National Basketball League in Canada in 1993-1994.
He had a combined coaching record of 371-508 (248-391 in National Basketball Association and 123-117 in American Bar Association), with an 11-20 playoff record. He went 105-91 with the Chapparals/Spurs, 13-32 with the Sonics, 18-26 with the Utah Stars, 124-122 with the Rockets, 60-124 with the Jazz, and 51-113 with the Cavaliers. He made it out of the first round of the playoffs just once, in 1977.
Other Professional
Nissalke"s entrepreneurial activities included developing and owning several health clubs throughout Texas in addition to co-owning a successful bar and restaurant, Green Street in Salt Lake City, Utah for over twenty years.
After his coaching career, Nissalke took on revamping the Young Men’s Christian Association of Utah and served as Chairman of the Board and later interim Chief Executive Officer. The Young Men’s Christian Association had its most successful fundraising campaigns during his tenure. Nissalke presently works as a radio pregame and halftime analyst and talk-show host for the Utah Jazz on 1320 KFAN.