Tom Thibodeau
Encyclopedia
Tom Thibodeau is an American basketball
coach
who is currently the head coach of the Chicago Bulls
. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics
.
As a defensive coach, he helped the Houston Rockets
rank among the Top 5 in the league in scoring defense and field goal
percentage defense from 2004
to 2007
, and has helped his team finish in the league's Top 10 in team defense 15 times. He coached in 87 playoff
games and was part of the 1999 NBA Finals
as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks
prior to joining the Celtics, with whom he won the 2008 NBA Championship
. In 2011 he was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls
to a 62 win season.
, where he spent the next four seasons.
as an assistant coach with an expansion team, the Minnesota Timberwolves
, under head coach Bill Musselman
in 1989
. Prior to the 1991–92 season
, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics
as an advance scout.
Thibodeau moved to the San Antonio Spurs
the following season, where he worked as an assistant coach to Jerry Tarkanian
, Rex Hughes
and John Lucas
for two seasons. After the 1993–94 season
, he left the Spurs along with Lucas to become an assistant under Lucas with the Philadelphia 76ers
. After the 1995–96 season
, he again left simultaneously with Lucas, this time joining the New York Knicks
as an assistant to head coach Jeff Van Gundy
.
During his tenure with the Knicks, he helped the team set a then-NBA record by holding 33 consecutive opponents under 100 points in the 2000–01 season. As part of the Knicks coaching staff, he also helped Jeff Van Gundy
to coach the Eastern Conference
All-Stars in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game
. He spent seven years with the Knicks before joining the Houston Rockets
prior to the 2003–04 season
, where again he was an assistant to head coach Van Gundy.
On August 30, 2007, Thibodeau was named associate head coach of the Boston Celtics
, who hoped to bolster their defense with his hiring. Eventually, he helped the Celtics become the best defensive team in the league with his expertise. On November 4, 2007, Thibodeau took over head coaching duties against the Toronto Raptors
in place of Doc Rivers
, who was unable to coach due to the death of his father earlier that day.
During the 2008 NBA Playoffs
, Thibodeau had been rumored as a candidate for the vacant head coaching job with the New York Knicks
, whom he worked for as an assistant coach for seven years, as well as the Chicago Bulls
. However, he wasn't hired as the head coach of either franchise.
Thibodeau led the Celtics
to the best rating in several defensive categories in 2007–08, and was a key factor in containing Kobe Bryant
during the 2008 NBA Finals
.
, Thibodeau interviewed with officials from the Chicago Bulls
for their vacant head coach position. On June 5, 2010, the Bulls reportedly reached an agreement with Thibodeau to fill their head coaching vacancy. Thibodeau reportedly signed a 3-year, $10 million contract. On June 23, 2010, he was finally confirmed as the Bulls' head coach. On May 1, 2011, Thibodeau was named the NBA Coach of the Year. He tied the record for most wins by a rookie head coach with 62 wins, and led the Bulls to their first division title since the Michael Jordan
era.
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| align="left" |
||82||62||20||.756|| align="center" |1st in Central||16||9||7||.563
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Finals
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||82||62||20||.756|| ||16||9||7||.563
, Connecticut
, Thibodeau graduated with a Bachelor of Science
degree and a Master of Science
in counseling from Salem State University. In 1998, he was inducted into the New Britain Sports Hall of Fame
.
Thibodeau is currently single and has never been married.
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...
coach
Coach (basketball)
Basketball coaching is the act of directing and strategizing the behaviour of a basketball team or individual basketball player. Basketball coaching typically encompasses the improvement of individual and team offensive and defensive skills, as well as overall physical conditioning.Coaching is...
who is currently the head coach of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. He previously served as an assistant coach with the 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...
.
As a defensive coach, he helped the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
rank among the Top 5 in the league in scoring defense and field goal
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
percentage defense from 2004
2003-04 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves*Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers*Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers...
to 2007
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...
, and has helped his team finish in the league's Top 10 in team defense 15 times. He coached in 87 playoff
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
games and was part of the 1999 NBA Finals
1999 NBA Finals
The 1999 NBA Finals was the championship round of the shortened 1998–99 NBA season or the 1999 season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference took on the New York Knicks of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage...
as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
prior to joining the Celtics, with whom he won the 2008 NBA Championship
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
. In 2011 he was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
to a 62 win season.
College
Thibodeau played basketball at Salem State University, and became an assistant coach at the school in 1981. In 1984, he became head coach at Salem State after serving three years as an assistant. One season later he became an assistant coach at Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he spent the next four seasons.
NBA
After four years at Harvard University, he entered the NBANational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
as an assistant coach with an expansion team, 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...
, under head coach Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
in 1989
1989-90 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Magic Johnson, Los Angeles Lakers*Rookie of the Year: David Robinson, San Antonio Spurs*Defensive Player of the Year: Dennis Rodman, Detroit Pistons...
. Prior to the 1991–92 season
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...
, he joined the Seattle SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
as an advance scout.
Thibodeau moved to the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
the following season, where he worked as an assistant coach to Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian
Jerry Tarkanian , also known as "Tark the Shark", is a retired college basketball coach known as one of the winningest coaches in college basketball history...
, Rex Hughes
Rex Hughes
Rex Hughes is a former college and professional basketball coach. He coached men's basketball at Kent State University, and would later serve as an NBA head and assistant coach...
and John Lucas
John Lucas II
John Harding Lucas II is a retired American professional basketball player and a current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers.-Basketball playing career and substance abuse:...
for two seasons. After the 1993–94 season
1993-94 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-NBA awards:*Most Valuable Player: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets*Rookie of the Year: Chris Webber, Golden State Warriors*Defensive Player of the Year: Hakeem Olajuwon, Houston Rockets...
, he left the Spurs along with Lucas to become an assistant under Lucas with the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
. After the 1995–96 season
1995-96 NBA season
The 1995–96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association , although the league didn't celebrate this anniversary until the following season...
, he again left simultaneously with Lucas, this time joining the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
as an assistant to head coach Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...
.
During his tenure with the Knicks, he helped the team set a then-NBA record by holding 33 consecutive opponents under 100 points in the 2000–01 season. As part of the Knicks coaching staff, he also helped Jeff Van Gundy
Jeff Van Gundy
Jeffrey William "Jeff" Van Gundy is a former American basketball head coach. He coached most recently with the National Basketball Association's Houston Rockets...
to coach the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
All-Stars in the 2000 NBA All-Star Game
2000 NBA All-Star Game
The 2000 NBA All-Star Game, held in Oakland, California, was the 49th edition of the North American National Basketball Association All-Star Game. The Western Conference won the game with the score of 137-126 while Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan were both named MVP of the game...
. He spent seven years with the Knicks before joining the Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
prior to the 2003–04 season
2003-04 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves*Rookie of the Year: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers*Defensive Player of the Year: Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers...
, where again he was an assistant to head coach Van Gundy.
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...
, who hoped to bolster their defense with his hiring. Eventually, he helped the Celtics become the best defensive team in the league with his expertise. On November 4, 2007, Thibodeau took over head coaching duties against the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
in place of 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...
, who was unable to coach due to the death of his father earlier that day.
During the 2008 NBA Playoffs
2008 NBA Playoffs
The 2008 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2007–08 season which ended with the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics defeating the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers 4–2....
, Thibodeau had been rumored as a candidate for the vacant head coaching job with the New York Knicks
New York Knicks
The New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, whom he worked for as an assistant coach for seven years, as well as the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. However, he wasn't hired as the head coach of either franchise.
Thibodeau led the 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...
to the best rating in several defensive categories in 2007–08, and was a key factor in containing Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant is an American professional basketball player who plays shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association . Bryant enjoyed a successful high school basketball career at Lower Merion High School, where he was recognized as the top high school...
during the 2008 NBA Finals
2008 NBA Finals
The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Boston Celtics, top-seeded champions of the Eastern Conference, defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, top-seeded champions of the Western Conference, four games to two in a...
.
Chicago Bulls
On June 2, 2010, the eve of the 2010 NBA Finals2010 NBA Finals
The 2010 NBA Finals was the National Basketball Association championship series for the 2009–10 season. The best-of-seven playoff was contested between the Los Angeles Lakers, champions of the Western Conference and defending NBA champions, and the Boston Celtics, champions of the Eastern Conference...
, Thibodeau interviewed with officials from the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
for their vacant head coach position. On June 5, 2010, the Bulls reportedly reached an agreement with Thibodeau to fill their head coaching vacancy. Thibodeau reportedly signed a 3-year, $10 million contract. On June 23, 2010, he was finally confirmed as the Bulls' head coach. On May 1, 2011, Thibodeau was named the NBA Coach of the Year. He tied the record for most wins by a rookie head coach with 62 wins, and led the Bulls to their first division title since the Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan is a former American professional basketball player, active entrepreneur, and majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats...
era.
Coaching record
|-| align="left" |CHI
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
| align="left" |
||82||62||20||.756|| align="center" |1st in Central||16||9||7||.563
| align="center" |Lost in Conf. Finals
2011 NBA Playoffs
The 2011 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2010–11 season. Eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualified for the playoffs, all seeded 1 to 8 in a tournament bracket, with all rounds in a best-of-seven format. The 2011 NBA Playoffs began on...
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
| ||82||62||20||.756|| ||16||9||7||.563
Personal
A native of New BritainNew Britain, Connecticut
New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Thibodeau graduated with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree and a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in counseling from Salem State University. In 1998, he was inducted into the New Britain Sports 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...
.
Thibodeau is currently single and has never been married.
External links
- Tom Thibodeau Coaching Info at NBA.com
- Tom Thibodeau Interview – ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
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