Profile Text
D’Antoni in 2008, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Michael Andrew D’Antoni
Place of Birth: Mullens, West Virginia, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 8, 1951
Ethnicity: * father – Italian * mother – English, possibly other
Mike D’Antoni is an American-Italian professional basketball player, and coach. A point guard, he played with the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, the Spirits of St. Louis, the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA), and Olimpia Milano. He coached Olimpia Milano, Benetton Basket, the Denver Nuggets, initially as an assistant; the Portland Trail Blazers, as an assistant; the Phoenix Suns, initially as an assistant; the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, as an associate HC; the Houston Rockets, and the Brooklyn Nets, as an assistant. He also holds Italian citizenship.
Mike is the son of Betty Joe (Bailey) and Lewis G. D’Antoni (Luigi Giuseppe D’Antoni), a high school basketball coach in West Virginia and Ohio. His brother is professional basketball player and coach Dan D’Antoni, who is head coach for the Marshall Thundering Herd men’s basketball team. Dan has coached under Mike as assistant coach. Mike speaks fluent Italian. He is married to Laurel, and a has a son.
Mike’s paternal grandfather was named Andrea Di Antonio. Andrea was born in Nocera Umbra, Province of Perugia, Umbria, Italy.
Mike’s paternal grandmother was named Fior D. Cammerci. Fior was Italian.
Mike’s maternal grandfather was William Calhoun “Cal” Bailey, Sr. (the son of Theodore Freeling/Freeland “T.F.” Bailey and Martha F. Justice). William was born in Wyoming County, West Virginia. Theodore was the son of James Esa Bailey, Jr. and Delilah Gore. Mike’s Bailey line can be traced to James Bailey, who was born, c. 1714, in Wigan, Lancashire, England. Mike’s great-grandmother Martha was the daughter of James A. Justice and Virginia Jane “Jennie” Hatfield.
Mike’s maternal grandmother was Katherine Adelia/L. “Kate” Lacey (the daughter of Alexander Joseph Lacey and Mary/Mallie Alice/Allie Sarver). Katherine was born in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
Sources: Information about Mike’s Italian ancestry – http://www.olimpiamilano.com
Marriage record of Mike’s paternal grandparents, Andrea Di Antonio and Fior D. Cammerci – https://familysearch.org
Passenger record of Mike’s paternal grandfather, Andrea Di Antonio – https://familysearch.org
Genealogy of Mike D’Antoni (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://wvbaileys.com
Genealogy of Mike’s maternal grandfather, William Calhoun “Cal” Bailey, Sr. – http://www.findagrave.com