Jim Rodgers
Profile
Jimmy Rodgers is a former NBA head coach* with the Boston Celtics and Minnesota Timberwolves. He played college basketball at the University of Iowa. While not having much success as a head coach, he was an assistant coach** on 6 NBA championship teams (3 with Boston, 3 with Chicago).
* Other Iowa connected NBA coaches: Bill Fitch (Coe), Nick Nurse (UNI), Terry Stotts (Cedar Falls), Don Nelson (UofI), Fred Hoiberg (ISU), Nate Bjorkgren (Buena Vista), and Jeff Hornacek (ISU)
** Rodgers first assistant coach job was with Bill Fitch in North Dakota where they coached Phil Jackson.
Personal Notes
As noted above, Jimmy Rodgers was a successful coach netting 6 NBA championships as an assistant coach. However, as a head coach he was seen as somewhat a failure. I find his career fascinating when you dig into it. His first season with Boston, Larry Bird was injured for most of it, but he still made the playoffs at 42-40. His second season he coaches to 52-30, but loses in the first round so Boston fires him for not winning a playoff series in his two years. Minnesota hires him, but the team is trash for three years, and he can't pull a miracle. But, Boston and Chicago see his talent and keep him as an assistant coach. Perhaps he was a Norv Turner. Great if he wasn't a head coach.
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