Houston Rockets • 2003-2004 Media Guide - NBA Media Central

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