Christopher ‘Chris’ Finch, a former basketball player currently serving as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, credits his parents as his constant source of support.
Chris Finch was born on November 6, 1969, in Cambridge, Ohio, United States, to parents William R. Finch and Penni Hollwager Finch.
While the NBA coach Chris Finch prefers to maintain a low profile and hasn’t shared much about his parents, William and Penni, he often expresses his love and appreciation for them.
Similarly, Chris Finch attributes his passion for sports to his parents, who supported him throughout his basketball journey, ultimately helping him become one of the most renowned head coaches in the NBA.
In an interview, Chris Finch stated that he inherited his competitive nature and willingness to challenge from his mother, Penni, who was a professional dancer.
Chris’ mother, Penni, was a member of the world-famous Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
Even though she didn’t pursue her dancing career, her stories of practicing for hours in her family’s basement, including tap, jazz, and ballet, inspired Chris Finch.
Finch said,
“She made it, she lived her dream, she was a Rockette in New York City. That’s a competitive world. My competitive juices flow mostly from her. That’s where it was wired,”
While Chris’s mother was popular for her dancing skills, she married a man, his father, William, who lives a very private life and hasn’t shared much about his profession.
Nearly Eight Years Since Chris Finch Lost His Mother, Penni Finch
The Timberwolves’ head coach, Chris Finch’s beloved mother, Penni Finch, passed away almost eight years ago on September 29, 2017, at the age of 77 at Bayfront Medical Center Hospice Unit in St Petersburg, Florida.
According to Chris Finch’s father, William’s social media post, his beloved wife, whom he regarded as his best friend, passed away after a two-year battle with peritoneal cancer.
His mother, Penni Finch, a native of Massillon, Ohio, was born on October 12, 1939, to late parents Walter and Lois Hollwager.
She graduated from the University of Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in education and worked with the University of South Florida Lakeland Campus before passing.
Moreover, her memorial and funeral service occurred at Beach Memorial Chapel, 301 Corey Avenue, St Pete Beach, Florida, on October 5, 2017.
Penni Finch’s passing has left a profound void in the lives of her husband William and their three children, Chris, Kevin, and Holly.
Penni and William were happily married for 56 years, and together, they raised their three children, Chris, Kevin, and Holly, to be successful in their respective fields.
Like Chris Finch, his elder brother Kevin Finch is a former high school and college athlete.
Kevin Finch, who is five years older than Chris, guided him in his basketball journey.
He showcased his amazing basketball skills playing for Wilson High School’s men’s basketball team, where he was a leading scorer as a senior in 1982-83.
Moreover, Kevin once scored 37 points to match a program record that wasn’t topped for 38 years.
Although Kevin didn’t pursue a career in sports, he supported Chris Finch. He often traveled to Europe to watch his brother coach and served as the general manager for Great Britain’s National team when Chris was head coach for the 2012 Olympics.
Talking about their sister, Holly Finch Hart, she currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her family and works as a global client relationship director at Compass Group.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Chris Finch played basketball at Franklin & Marshall College, where he was an NCAA Division III All-American in 1991 and 1992.
- He began his professional playing career in England with the Sheffield Forgers of the National Basketball League, the then-second tier of British basketball.
- Chris started his head coaching career in England with the Sheffield Sharks of the British Basketball League.
