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University of North Carolina Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Bob MacKinnon is in his second season on the North Carolina coaching staff. He is in his third year working with Matt Doherty. MacKinnon was also an assistant under Doherty at Notre Dame in 1999-2000.
The Buffalo, N.Y., native spent 10 years working at the Carolina Basketball Camp under former Tar Heel head coaches Dean Smith and Bill Guthridge.
Last year at Carolina, the Tar Heels won 26 games, earned a No. 1 national ranking late in the regular season, posted a 13-3 league record and won a share of the ACC regular-season championship, advanced to the ACC Tournament finals, and were the No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament South Regional.
At Notre Dame, the Irish went 22-15 and earned a spot in the NIT finals.
Prior to the 1999-2000 season, MacKinnon was the head men’s basketball coach at the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. for two seasons (1997-99). MacKinnon led the Mariners to appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament in both seasons. He had a two-year record of 38-16 (.703) at the school.
In 1997-98, the Mariners went 16-11 and posted an 11-3 mark in the Skyline Conference, winning both the regular-season championship and the postseason tournament. In 1998-99, the Academy finished with a 22-5 record, won 16 of its final 17 games and had a perfect 14-0 mark in conference play to win the regular season championship and postseason tournament. MacKinnon was named the Skyline Conference Coach of the Year following the 1998-99 season. MacKinnon came to the Merchant Marine Academy after serving on the staff at Niagara from 1990-97. MacKinnon was an assistant coach for the Purple Eagles for seven years and was the associate head coach in his final three years.
MacKinnon also served as an assistant coach at George Washington (1985-90), Mercyhurst (1982-85) and King’s (Pa.) College (1981-82).
He is entering his 21st season coaching college basketball and has been on the sidelines for almost 600 games.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from King’s College in 1982 and his Master’s in Education from Niagara in 1997. He was a four-year member of the basketball team at King’s.
His father, Bob Sr., was a successful basketball coach, as well. MacKinnon Sr. was the head coach at Canisius College for 15 years and spent more than 20 years in the NBA. His professional basketball career included stints with the Buffalo Braves, St. Louis Spirit (ABA), Boston Celtics and New Jersey Nets.
Born Sept. 24, 1960, MacKinnon and his wife Suzanne have three sons – Bobby, Matthew and Brendan.
