Tab Baldwin arrived in New Zealand in 1988 having coached in the States for five years. From Jacksonville Florida, Tab enjoyed immediate success taking Otago from the second division to the NBL. His move north to Auckland was highly productive as Auckland Stars won 5 titles in 8 years with Tab named NBL Coach of the Year on 4 occasions.
He took the reins of the national team in 2001 and had immediate success with the team beating Australia 2-1 to win the 2001 FIBA Oceania Championship, the victory propelling the Tall Blacks to the 2022 World Cup. The Tall Blacks enjoyed a stunning run at that World Cup, eventually finishing fourth – the highest placed finish by an Oceania team at a FIBA event. They recorded wins against Russia, Venezuela, China and Puerto Rico before falling to Yugoslavia in the semis and a Dirk Nowitzki inspired Germany in the bronze medal game.
For his achievements Tab was named Coach of the Year at the Halberg Awards in both 2001 and 2002. In 2004 he coached the Tall Blacks to a tenth-place finish at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Baldwin also took the team to silver medal success at the 2006 Commonwealth Games, victories again against Australia in 2004 and 2006 and then coaching the team at the 2006 FIBA World Championships where they were ousted in the quarter-finals by South American heavyweights Argentina. He was also made an Honorary Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit Tab finished his tenure as Tall Blacks coach in 2006.
Since moving overseas Tab has coached the Lebanon, Jordanian and Philippines national teams and still coaches in the Philippines.
