Jimmy Rodgers

Jimmy Rodgers started his professional coaching career as an assistant coach under Bill Fitch for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s basketball team.

His most notable team were the 1965-1966 North Dakota Fighting Hawks; they finished the season with a record of 26-5 and took third place at the NCAA College Division National Tournament. The team was led by a starting lineup of Phil Jackson, Paul Pederson, Jim Hester, John (Stony) Burckhard, and Tom Nesbitt. Jackson was honored as the NCC Most Valuable Player and earned AP and UPI All-America accolades.

The team’s success included a perfect 12-0 mark in the North Central Conference play, securing their first NCC title since 1954-55 season. They advanced to the national tournament with a 67-57 victory over Minnesota-Duluth and an 82-57 win over MSU-Moorhead. The Fighting Hawks’ performance in the national tournament was highlighted by a 97-83 victory over Seattle Pacific, followed by a 94-86 victory over St. Michael’s in the third-place game.

In 2002, the team was inducted into the school’s hall of fame.

After spending 2 seasons with the school, Coach Rodgers succeeded Bill Fitch as the head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s basketball team.

Coach Rodgers became an assistant coach under Bill Fitch, who he coached under for in North Dakota. In his first season as an assistant coach, the team finished with a 23–59 record, missing the playoffs.

In 1976, the Cavaliers finished with a 49–33 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Coach Fitch won the 1976 NBA Coach of the Year award. They made a deep playoff run to the conference finals but were eliminated in 6 games by Tom Heinsohn and the Boston Celtics.

In 1977, the Cavaliers finished with a 43–39 record, qualifying for the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Dick Motta and the Washington Bullets in 3 games (3-1). The following season, the team finished with a 43–39 record but were eliminated in the first round by Willis Reed and the New York Knicks in 2 games.

In 1979, Fitch’s and Rodgers’ last season with the Cavaliers, they finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

• Nate Thurmond
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1965–1968, 1970, 1973, 1974)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1971)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1974)
  • 1964 NBA All-Rookie First Team (1964)
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 42 retired by Golden State Warriors
  • No. 42 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers
• Austin Carr
  • 1974 NBA All-Star
  • 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 34 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers
• Elmore Smith
  • 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1974 NBA blocks leader
• Bingo Smith (No. 7 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers)
• John Johnson
  • 1979 NBA champion
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1971, 1972)
• Butch Beard
  • 1975 NBA champion
  • 1972 NBA All-Star
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Jim Brewer
  • Future 1982 NBA champion
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1976, 1977)
• Mike Mitchell (1981 NBA All-Star)
• Campy Russell (1979 NBA All-Star)
• Jim Cleamons
  • 1972 NBA champion
  • 1976 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • Future 9× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996, 2000–2002, 2009, 2010) as an assistant coach

Rodgers followed Bill Fitch to become an assistant coach under him for the Boston Celtics. In his first season as an assistant, the Celtics finished with a 61–21 record, making a deep playoff run to the conference finals, but were eliminated by Billy Cunningham and the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games (4-1).

The following season, the Celtics finished with a 62–20 record, making a deep playoff run to the NBA finals, defeating Del Harris and the Houston Rockets in 6 games (4-2). In 1982, the Celtics finished with a 63–19 record, reaching the conference finals, but faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers again and were eliminated in 7 games.

In 1983, Fitch’s last season with the Celtics, the team finished with a 56–26 record and were eliminated in the semifinals by Don Nelson and the Milwaukee Bucks in a 4-0 sweep.

Rodgers then was retained under his fellow assistant coach K.C. Jones when he was promoted to head coach. In his first season as the head coach, the Celtics finished with a 62–20 record, 1st in the Eastern Conference, making a deep playoff run to the NBA finals where they defeated Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers in 7 games. The following season, the team finished with a 63–19 record, reaching the finals again, but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers in 6 games.

In 1986, the Celtics finished with a 67–15 record, returning to the NBA finals against former Celtics coach Bill Fitch and the Houston Rockets, winning in 6 games. Robert Parish credited Bill Walton as one of the biggest reasons why the Celtics were that dominant that season.

In 1987, the Celtics finished with a 59–23 record, facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers a 3rd time under Jones, losing in 6 games. In his last season with the team, the Celtics finished with a 57–25 record but were eliminated in the conference finals by Chuck Daly and the Detroit Pistons in 6 games.

Notable Players Coached

• Larry Bird
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
  • 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
  • 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)
  • 1986 AP Athlete of the Year
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
• Kevin McHale
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
  • 1987 All-NBA First Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)
  • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
  • 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 32 retired by Boston Celtics
• Robert Parish
  • 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991)
  • 1982 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics
• Dave Cowens
  • 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
  • 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
  • 1973 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
  • 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 18 retired by Boston Celtics
• Bill Walton
  • 2× NBA champion (1977, 1986)
  • 1977 NBA Finals MVP
  • NBA Most Valuable Player (1978)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1977, 1978)
  • 1978 All-NBA First Team
  • 1977 All-NBA Second Team
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1977, 1978)
  • 1986 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
  • 1977 NBA rebounding leader
  • 1977 NBA blocks leader
  • No. 32 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
• Dennis Johnson
  • 3× NBA champion (1979, 1984, 1986)
  • 1979 NBA Finals MVP
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1979–1982, 1985)
  • 1981 All-NBA First Team
  • 1980 All-NBA Second Team
  • 6× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1979–1983, 1987)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984–1986)
  • No. 3 retired by Boston Celtics
• Bob McAdoo
  • 2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)
  • 1975 NBA Most Valuable Player
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1974–1978)
  • 1975 All-NBA First Team
  • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1973 NBA All-Rookie Team
  • 3× NBA scoring champion (1974–1976)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Pete Maravich
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977–1979)
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1976, 1977)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)
  • 1971 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1977 NBA scoring champion
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 44 retired by Atlanta Hawks
  • No. 7 retired by Utah Jazz
  • No. 7 retired by New Orleans Pelicans
• Nate “Tiny” Archibald
  • 1981 NBA champion
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1980–1982)
  • 1981 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1972, 1981)
  • 1973 NBA scoring champion
  • 1973 NBA assists leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 1 retired by Sacramento Kings
• Scott Wedman
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1976, 1980)
  • 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1975 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• M.L. Carr
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1976 ABA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1979 NBA steals leader
• Cedric Maxwell
  • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
  • 1981 NBA Finals MVP
  • No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
• Danny Ainge
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 1988 NBA All-Star
  • Future NBA Coach & Executive
• Don Chaney
  • 2× NBA champion (1969, 1974)
  • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1975, 1977)
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Chris Ford
  • 1981 NBA champion as a player
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986) as a Boston Celtics assistant coach
• Curtis Rowe (1976 NBA All-Star)
• Rick Carlisle
  • Future 2011 NBA champion as Head Coach
  • Future 2002 NBA Coach of the Year

Coach Rodgers succeeded K.C. Jones as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. in his first season, the Celtics finished with a 42–40 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by Chuck Daly and the Detroit Pistons in 3 games (3-0), who would become 1988 NBA champions.

The following season, the Celtics finished with a 52–30 record, reaching the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Stu Jackson and the New York Knicks in 5 games (3-2).

Notable Players Coached

• Larry Bird
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
  • 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
  • 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
  • 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
  • 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)
  • 1986 AP Athlete of the Year
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
• Kevin McHale
  • 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
  • 1987 All-NBA First Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)
  • 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
  • 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 32 retired by Boston Celtics
• Robert Parish
  • 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
  • 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991)
  • 1982 All-NBA Second Team
  • 1989 All-NBA Third Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics
• Dennis Johnson
  • 3× NBA champion (1979, 1984, 1986)
  • 1979 NBA Finals MVP
  • 5× NBA All-Star (1979–1982, 1985)
  • 1981 All-NBA First Team
  • 1980 All-NBA Second Team
  • 6× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1979–1983, 1987)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984–1986)
  • No. 3 retired by Boston Celtics
• Reggie Lewis
  • 1992 NBA All-Star
  • No. 35 retired by Boston Celtics

Coach Rodgers became the 2nd ever Head Coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, succeeding Bill Musselman. In his first season, the team finished with a 15–67 record, missing the playoffs.

The following season after a 6-23 start, Rodgers was fired and replaced by assistant coach Sidney Lowe.

Notable Players Coached

• Christian Laettner
  • Future 1997 NBA All-Star
  • 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Gold Medalist at the 1992 Olympics (Dream Team)
• Luc Longley (Future 3× NBA champion (1996–1998)
• Chuck Person
  • 1987 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1987 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Future NBA Coach
• Pooh Richardson (1990 NBA All-Rookie First Team)
• Scott Brooks (1994 NBA champion & Future 2010 NBA Coach of the Year)
• Sam Mitchell (Future 2007 NBA Coach of the Year)
• Doug West (Future NBA Coach)

Coach Rodgers became an assistant coach under Phil Jackson, who he coached in North Dakota, for the Chicago Bulls. In his first season as an assistant coach, the Bulls finished with a 47–35 record, later being eliminated in the conference semifinals by Brian Hill and the Orlando Magic in 6 games.

The following season, the Bulls had one of the most historic seasons in NBA history, finishing with a 72–10 record, later defeating George Karl and the Seattle SuperSonics in 6 games to win the 1996 NBA championship.

In 1997, the Bulls finished with a 69–13 record, defeating Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz in 6 games to win the 1997 NBA championship. In 1998, Rodgers’ last season with the Bulls, the team finished with a 62–20 record, defeating the Utah Jazz in 6 games for a second year in a row to win the 1998 NBA championship, pulling off a three-peat.

Notable Players Coached

• Michael Jordan
  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002, 2003)
  • 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998)
  • 10× All-NBA First Team (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988)
  • 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 3× NBA steals leader (1988, 1990, 1993)
  • 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987, 1988)
  • No. 23 retired by Chicago Bulls
• Scottie Pippen
  • 6× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992–1997)
  • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1994)
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1994–1996)
  • 8× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1992–1999)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1991, 2000)
  • 1995 NBA steals leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections.
  • No. 33 retired by Chicago Bulls
• Dennis Rodman
  • 5× NBA champion (1989, 1990, 1996–1998)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1990, 1992)
  • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1990, 1991)
  • 7× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1989–1993, 1995, 1996)
  • 7× NBA rebounding champion (1992–1998)
  • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Ron Harper
  • 5× NBA champion (1996–1998, 2000, 2001)
  • 1987 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• BJ Armstrong (3× NBA champion (1991–1993) & 1994 NBA All-Star)
• Toni Kukoč (3× NBA champion (1996–1998) & 1996 NBA Sixth Man of the Year)
• Steve Kerr (5× NBA champion (1996–1999, 2003), NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1997), & Future 4x champion as an NBA head coach)
• Will Perdue (4× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1999)
• Luc Longley (3× NBA champion (1996–1998)