Bumper Tormohlen
NBA Player-Coach | Atlanta Hawks Interim Head Coach | NBA Scout
Eugene “Bumper” Tormohlen was born on May 12, 1937, in Holland, Indiana. Tormohlen was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 1959 NBA draft but did not play that year in the NBA. Instead, he played for the Cleveland Pipers and the Kansas City Steers of the American Basketball League. He played for the St. Louis (Later Atlanta) Hawks from 1963 to 1970. He received his nickname from his teammates who praised his rebounding ability.
After coaching, he spent several seasons as the Director of College Scouting for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Coach Tormohlen passed away on December 27, 2018, at age 81.
Coaching Career
While still playing on the Atlanta Hawks, Tormohlen was a player-coach under head coach Richie Guerin, who was also a player-coach. In his first tenure, the Hawks finished the season with a 48–34 record, reaching the Division finals, but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers.
He later returned under Cotton Fitzsimmons as an assistant coach. In 1976, the Hawks had a 28–46 record, which led to the firing of Coach Fitzsimmons. Tormohlen was promoted an interim basis on March 30, 1976, where he finished with a 1-7 coaching record.
Notable Players Coached
- Lou Hudson (6× NBA All-Star (1969–1974) & No. 23 retired by Atlanta Hawks
- Paul Silas
- 3× NBA champion (1974, 1976, 1979)
- 2× NBA All-Star (1972, 1975)
- 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1975, 1976)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1971–1973)
- Don Ohl (5× NBA All-Star)
- Joe Caldwell (2× NBA All-Star & 2× ABA All-Star (1971, 1973)
- Bill Bridges (Future 1975 NBA champion & 3× NBA All-Star (1967, 1968, 1970)
- Walt Hazzard (1968 NBA All-Star)
- Tom Van Arsdale (3× NBA All-Star)
- John Drew (2× NBA All-Star)
- Dean Meminger (1973 NBA champion)
Coach Tormohlen became an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls under Ed Badger. He later returned as an assistant coach under Jerry Sloan.
Notable Players Coached
- Artis Gilmore
- 1975 ABA champion
- ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player (1975)
- ABA Most Valuable Player (1972)
- 6× NBA All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986)
- 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976)
- ABA All-Star Game MVP (1974)
- 5× All-ABA First Team (1972–1976)
- 4× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1973–1976)
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1978)
- ABA Rookie of the Year (1972)
- ABA All-Rookie First Team (1972)
- Norm Van Lier
- 3× NBA All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977)
- All-NBA Second Team (1974)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1974, 1976, 1977)
- 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1971–1973, 1975, 1978)
- 1971 NBA assists leader
- Jack Marin (2× NBA All-Star & 1967 NBA All-Rookie First Team)
- Eric Fernsten (Future 1981 NBA champion)
- Derrek Dickey (1975 NBA champion)
- Mark Landsberger (Future 2x NBA champion)
- Charles Dudley (1975 NBA champion)
- Larry Kenon
- 1974 ABA champion
- 3× ABA All-Star (1974–1976)
- 2× NBA All-Star (1978, 1979)
- David Greenwood (Future 1990 NBA champion)