Former NZ men’s basketball coach Steve McKean dead at 77

<p>WELLINGTON, New Zealand &mdash; Steve McKean, a San Jose State University graduate who was a pioneering professional basketball player in New Zealand and later coach of the New Zealand men’s team, has died. He was 77.</p>
<p>McKean’s death as a result of cancer was confirmed Monday by Basketball New Zealand.</p>
<p>During his senior year in 1970 McKean played at San Jose State with later long-time ABA and NBA player Coby Dietrick.</p>
<p>He arrived in New Zealand soon after to join the Coca-Cola Club and later the Panmure club in Auckland, one of the first wave of American professionals in New Zealand.</p>
<p>McKean was coach of New Zealand’s national men’s team from 1972-81, guiding the Tall Blacks to their first-ever win over Australia in 1978. He was also the first coach to post 100 wins in New Zealand’s National Basketball League.</p>
<p>McKean was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012 for services to basketball.</p>
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