Ron Rothstein

Ron Rothstein
Rothstein in 2010
Personal information
Born (1942-12-27) December 27, 1942 (age 81)
Bronx, New York, U.S.
Career information
High schoolRoosevelt (Yonkers, New York)
CollegeRhode Island (1961–1964)
Coaching career1966–2014
Career history
As coach:
1966–1974Eastchester HS
1974–1975Upsala (assistant)
1975–1978New Rochelle HS
1978–1983Eastchester HS
1983–1986Atlanta Hawks (assistant)
1986–1988Detroit Pistons (assistant)
1988–1991Miami Heat
1992–1993Detroit Pistons
1993–1999Cleveland Cavaliers (assistant)
2000–2002Miami Sol
2003–2004Indiana Pacers (assistant)
2004–2014Miami Heat (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As assistant coach:

Ronald L. Rothstein[1] (born December 27, 1942) is an American former professional basketball coach and college basketball player, who has led many different NBA teams. He served as the first head coach for the Miami Heat, and later coached the Detroit Pistons. He has also coached in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2007–08, he also filled in for Pat Riley as an interim coach for the Heat.

Early life

Born in Bronx, New York,[2] Rothstein graduated from Roosevelt High School of Yonkers, New York in 1960 and played college basketball at the University of Rhode Island for the Rams. At Rhode Island, Rothstein was team captain as a senior and graduated in 1964 with a degree in physical education. In 1966, Rothstein earned his master's in physical education from Hunter College.[3]

Family

Ron Rothstein has a wife, Olivia, two children, Dana and David, and four grandchildren, Lucas, Hailey, Aidan, and Ava Jade.

Career

Rothstein began his coaching career in 1966 at Eastchester High School in Eastchester, New York and would remain until 1976. During the summer of 1967, he was the athletic director at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York. He then became assistant coach at NCAA Division III Upsala College for one season and then worked as head coach at New Rochelle High School of New Rochelle, New York from 1976 to 1978. Rothstein returned to Eastchester High for the 1978–79 season and coached varsity basketball and physical education thru June 1983.[3][4]

In 1979, Rothstein signed as a scout for the Atlanta Hawks and was named assistant coach in July 1983.[5] He was signed as an assistant for the Detroit Pistons in 1986 before becoming the first coach in Heat history (1988).[4]

Rothstein coached the Heat for three seasons, never leading them to a winning record. Rothstein became a television commentator for the Pistons as well as for the NBA on NBC all during the 1990-91 season. Detroit eventually hired him as their head coach for a season, but he was eventually fired. In 1993, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he stayed six seasons. In 2000, he was hired as head coach and general manager for the WNBA's Miami Sol, where he stayed during the franchise's entire existence (2000–2003). In 2003, he was hired by the Indiana Pacers as an assistant coach.[6] Rothstein would eventually return to the Heat as an assistant.

On January 3, 2007, Rothstein was named as the interim head coach of the Miami Heat in place of Pat Riley, who took a leave of absence for knee and hip surgery.[7]

Head coaching record

NBA

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
Miami 1988–89 82 15 67 .183 6th in Midwest — — — — Missed Playoffs
Miami 1989–90 82 18 64 .220 5th in Atlantic — — — — Missed Playoffs
Miami 1990–91 82 24 58 .293 7th in Atlantic — — — — Missed Playoffs
Detroit 1992–93 82 40 42 .488 6th in Central — — — — Missed Playoffs
Career 328 97 231 .296 — — — —

WNBA

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win–loss %
Playoffs PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win–loss %
Team Year G W L W–L% Finish PG PW PL PW–L% Result
MIA 2000 32 13 19 .406 6th in East – – – – Missed Playoffs
MIA 2001 32 20 12 .625 3rd in East 3 1 2 .333 Lost in Conference semifinals
MIA 2002 32 15 17 .469 6th in East – – – – Missed Playoffs
Career 96 48 48 .500 3 1 2 .333

References

  1. ^ "Ronald L. Rothstein ('64)". Rhode Island Rams. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  2. ^ Wine, Steven (July 13, 1988). "New Heat coach sets short-term goals". Deseret News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 18, 2017. Retrieved June 3, 2013.
  3. ^ a b Winderman, Ira (July 12, 1988). "Rothstein Gets Good News From Heat". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. p. 2.
  4. ^ a b Ron Rothstein Named Assistant Coach
  5. ^ Lombardi, Joe (July 4, 2006). "Ron Rothstein: Coach gets the brass ring at 63". The Journal News. White Plains, New York. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  6. ^ Pacers hire Ron Rothstein Retrieved June 27, 2006
  7. ^ ESPN - Riley to have surgery on right knee - NBA