Randy Wittman
Encyclopedia
Randy Scott Wittman is a retired American basketball
player, in the guard position, and former coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves
.
at Indiana University
, winning an NCAA championship
playing for Bobby Knight
in 1981, and was the Big Ten
Player of the Year in 1983. He became a member of the university's Hall of Fame
and was named to Indiana’s Silver Anniversary Basketball Team, in March 1996.
with the 22nd pick of the 1983 NBA Draft
. However, he never played for the Bullets, his rights being traded to the Atlanta Hawks
.
Wittman spent the early portion of his career with the Hawks, sharing backcourt with Glenn "Doc" Rivers
and Anthony "Spud" Webb
, and starting most of the games from 1985-88 (while averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists
in those years combined).
After a small spell with the Sacramento Kings
, he became a fringe player with the Indiana Pacers
, retiring in 1991-92
after three unassuming years. For his career, Wittman averaged 7.4 points, 1.1 rebounds
and 2.2 assists per game, shooting just over 50% from the field.
(and later with the Orlando Magic
).
Subsequently, Wittman spent from 1994-99 with the Minnesota Timberwolves
, in the same capacity. During that period, he helped in the development of Wolves' star forward Kevin Garnett
. Wittman then served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers
for two seasons, (1999–2001), compiling a record of 62-102.
On January 23, 2007, Wittman became the head coach of the Timberwolves, succeeding Dwane Casey
; he had already started the season
as assistant to the former.
On December 8, 2008, club owner Glen Taylor fired Wittman after a 4-19 start, asking Kevin McHale
to step in, in a complete change of the organization's structure, as the former Boston Celtics
great had been Minnesota's vice-president of basketball operations since 1995.
Wittman is now an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.
starred for the Cornell Big Red
basketball team; he helped lead the Big Red to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years during the 2007-08 season, again in 2009, and to Cornell's first-ever NCAA basketball tournament victories in 2010 over the Temple Owls and Wisconsin Badgers as the Big Red made its first-ever trip to the NCAA Men's Sweet 16.
| align="left" |CLE
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|82||32||50||.390|| align="center" |6th in Central||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
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|82||30||52||.366|| align="center" |6th in Central||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
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| align="left" |MIN
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|42||12||30||.286|| align="center" |4th in Northwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MIN
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|82||22||60||.268|| align="center" |5th in Northwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MIN
| align="left" |
|19||4||15||.211|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
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| align="left" |Career
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Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, in the guard position, and former coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
.
College
6'6" Wittman played college basketballCollege basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, winning an NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
playing for Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
in 1981, and was the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Player of the Year in 1983. He became a member of the university's Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
and was named to Indiana’s Silver Anniversary Basketball Team, in March 1996.
Professionals
Wittman was selected by the Washington BulletsWashington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
with the 22nd pick of the 1983 NBA Draft
1983 NBA Draft
The 1983 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1983 in New York City. A total of 226 players were selected over 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams. At least three players from the 1983 draft now serve as coaches...
. However, he never played for the Bullets, his rights being traded to the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
.
Wittman spent the early portion of his career with the Hawks, sharing backcourt with Glenn "Doc" Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
and Anthony "Spud" Webb
Spud Webb
Anthony Jerome Webb , also known as Spud Webb, is a retired American NBA professional basketball point guard most notable for winning a slam dunk contest despite being one of the shortest NBA players in the history of the league...
, and starting most of the games from 1985-88 (while averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
in those years combined).
After a small spell with the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, he became a fringe player with the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, retiring in 1991-92
1991-92 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls*Rookie of the Year: Larry Johnson, Charlotte Hornets*Defensive Player of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs...
after three unassuming years. For his career, Wittman averaged 7.4 points, 1.1 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and 2.2 assists per game, shooting just over 50% from the field.
Coaching career
In 1992, Wittman began his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach, first with the Pacers. He spent one season in Indianapolis and another with the Dallas MavericksDallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association , and the reigning NBA champions, having defeated the Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals.According to a 2011...
(and later with the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
).
Subsequently, Wittman spent from 1994-99 with the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
, in the same capacity. During that period, he helped in the development of Wolves' star forward Kevin Garnett
Kevin Garnett
Kevin Maurice Garnett is an American professional basketball player who currently plays power forward for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association . After a high school basketball career at Farragut Career Academy which included winning a national player of the year award, he...
. Wittman then served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
for two seasons, (1999–2001), compiling a record of 62-102.
On January 23, 2007, Wittman became the head coach of the Timberwolves, succeeding Dwane Casey
Dwane Casey
Dwane Casey is a former NCAA basketball player and coach who currently is a head coach in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors.-Early years:Casey was born in Morganfield, Kentucky, and graduated from Union County High School in 1975....
; he had already started the season
2006-07 NBA season
The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 31, 2006 and ran through April 18, 2007. The league fielded 30 teams, each playing an 82 game regular season schedule. The top eight seeds from each conference reached the NBA...
as assistant to the former.
On December 8, 2008, club owner Glen Taylor fired Wittman after a 4-19 start, asking Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
to step in, in a complete change of the organization's structure, as the former Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
great had been Minnesota's vice-president of basketball operations since 1995.
Wittman is now an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.
Personal life
His son Ryan WittmanRyan Wittman
Ryan Scott Wittman is an American basketball player currently playing in the Polish Basketball League for the Zastal Zielona Góra.-Early life and high school career:...
starred for the Cornell Big Red
Cornell Big Red
The Cornell Big Red is the informal name of the sports teams, and other competitive teams, at Cornell University. The university sponsors 36 varsity sports, as well as numerous intramural and club teams. Cornell participates in NCAA Division I as part of the Ivy League.The men's and women's hockey...
basketball team; he helped lead the Big Red to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years during the 2007-08 season, again in 2009, and to Cornell's first-ever NCAA basketball tournament victories in 2010 over the Temple Owls and Wisconsin Badgers as the Big Red made its first-ever trip to the NCAA Men's Sweet 16.
Coaching record
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Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
| align="left" |
|82||32||50||.390|| align="center" |6th in Central||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |CLE
| align="left" |
|82||30||52||.366|| align="center" |6th in Central||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MIN
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
| align="left" |
|42||12||30||.286|| align="center" |4th in Northwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MIN
| align="left" |
|82||22||60||.268|| align="center" |5th in Northwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MIN
| align="left" |
|19||4||15||.211|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||307||100||207||.326|| ||—||—||—||—