Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central
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COACHES<br />
Tom Thibodeau<br />
Assistant Head Coach<br />
BASKETBALL STAFF<br />
Tom Thibodeau begins his first season as assistant head coach of the<br />
<strong>Rockets</strong> after 13 seasons of coaching in the <strong>NBA</strong>. Thibodeau spent the<br />
last seven years as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks.<br />
“In assembling my staff with the <strong>Rockets</strong>, Tom stood at the top of my wish<br />
list,” <strong>Rockets</strong> Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “He is an expert in the areas<br />
of game preparation and player development. I feel lucky to have him<br />
by my side, as he's one of the finest coaches in the <strong>NBA</strong> today.”<br />
In his final seasons with the Knicks, he assumed increased duties in the<br />
fields of individual player development and game preparation. During<br />
his tenure with the Knicks, New York held 33 consecutive opponents to under 100 points from Nov.<br />
11, 2000 to Jan. 21, 2001, which stands as the longest stretch in the <strong>NBA</strong> since the shot clock was<br />
introduced in the 1954-55 season. Thibodeau and the Knicks coaching staff also helped Van Gundy<br />
guide the Eastern Conference All-Stars in the 2000 <strong>NBA</strong> All-Star Game.<br />
In each of his final four seasons in New York, Thibodeau served as head coach for the Knicks entry<br />
in the Shaw’s Boston Summer League. Prior to this, he and current Knicks Assistant General Manager<br />
Jeff Nix coached New York’s Summer League entries in Rye Brook, New York and Los Angeles,<br />
California.<br />
Thibodeau entered the <strong>NBA</strong> in 1989 as an assistant coach with the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves<br />
under the late Bill Musselman. After two seasons with the Timberwolves, he joined the Seattle<br />
SuperSonics in 1991 as an advance scout. The following year, Thibodeau moved to San Antonio,<br />
where he worked with Jerry Tarkanian and John Lucas as a Spurs assistant coach for two seasons. He<br />
left San Antonio to become an assistant coach under Lucas with the Philadelphia 76ers. Thibodeau’s<br />
stay in Philadelphia lasted two seasons, at which point he joined the Knicks. With the Knicks, Thibodeau<br />
worked with Van Gundy for five years and Don Chaney for two seasons.<br />
In 13 <strong>NBA</strong> seasons, Thibodeau has helped his team finish in the <strong>NBA</strong>'s Top Ten in team defense 10<br />
times. He has also coached in 75 <strong>NBA</strong> playoff games in his career, including New York's appearance<br />
in the 1999 <strong>NBA</strong> Finals.<br />
Thibodeau’s coaching career began in 1981 as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salem State<br />
College. After three years as an assistant, he became head coach in 1984. The following season,<br />
Thibodeau became an assistant coach at Harvard. He coached at Harvard for four years before leaving<br />
for the <strong>NBA</strong>.<br />
A native of New Britain, Connecticut, Thibodeau graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and<br />
a master’s in counseling from Salem State College. He lettered in four seasons at Salem State.<br />
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