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

COACHES
Steve Clifford
Assistant Coach
BASKETBALL STAFF
Steve Clifford joins the Rockets coaching staff after three seasons with the
New York Knicks. He spent the last two years as a Knicks assistant coach
following one season as an advance scout for the team.
“I am fortunate to have someone with Steve's experience on our staff,”
Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “He possesses a great
knowledge of the game from years on the sidelines. Most importantly,
Steve succeeds at relating this knowledge to our players.”
Clifford entered the NBA with more than a decade of college coaching
experience. Before joining the Knicks, Clifford served as an assistant
coach at East Carolina University for one season. He came to East Carolina after four years as head
coach at Adelphi University, where he compiled a record of 86-36 and a winning percentage of .705.
Clifford led Adelphi to four straight 20-win seasons, becoming the first coach in school history to record
consecutive 20-plus win seasons. He also guided Adelphi to four appearances in the NCAA Division
II Tournament.
Prior to taking the reigns at Adelphi, Clifford served as an assistant coach on the collegiate level. He
began his college coaching career at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire. After four seasons at
St. Anselm's, Clifford spent one year at Fairfield University. The following year, he moved to Boston
University, where he coached for four seasons. Clifford's next stop was Siena College, where he coached
for one year before going to Adelphi. Clifford’s first coaching experience came at Woodland High
School in Maine, where he coached for two seasons.
Clifford graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in special education.
He played four years with the Beavers, earning Best Defensive Player honors in his final two years while
serving as team captain.
Last summer Clifford married his wife, Doreen. They live in Houston with their dog, Shortstop.
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