Jerry Sichting
Encyclopedia
Jerry Lee Sichting is a retired American
basketball
player in the NBA
.
. In his senior year, he led his school to a 21-2 record and averaged 21 points, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 83 percent at the line in three seasons. Chosen as a 1975 Indiana All-Star, the team toured Europe
and Russia
.
He also played football at the quarterback
position, where he led his team to an undefeated 10-0 season in 1974 and earned 10 letters in basketball, football and baseball.
under head coach Sam Alford
, Jerry attended Purdue University
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
, to play for head coach Fred Schaus
. In his freshman season, Jerry boasted a 54.5 field goal and 81.6 free throw percentage. Playing under Lee Rose during his Senior season and alongside All-American Joe Barry Carroll
, he helped lead the Boilermakers
to a Big Ten Conference
title tie with the Earvin Johnson-led Michigan State
team. After losing the spot to be invited to the NCAA Tournament
, Sichting led the Boilers to an NIT
Finals appearance, losing to in-state conference rival, Indiana
. Named a First Team All-Big Ten selection his Senior year, he currently holds the school career free-throw percentage record with .867 accuracy. He also left Purdue with the school record for consecutive free throws made with 34, which was broken three decades later by Robbie Hummel
's 36.
by the Golden State Warriors
, although he did not play a game for the Warriors. He began the 1980–81 season with the Indiana Pacers
, where he played for 5 seasons. His best season in his career came in the 1983–84 season, where he averaged 11.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists a game, while holding a .532 field goal percentage.
to start the 1985–86 season. Teamed with fellow Indiana
native Larry Bird
, Jerry became a role player off the bench for the Celtics' 1985–86 championship team. He is known for being involved in a fight with Houston Rockets
center Ralph Sampson
during Game 5 of the 1986 NBA Finals
, resulting in Sampson's ejection.
during the 1988–89 season and then was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for his last full season. He retired in 1990 after playing one game with the Milwaukee Bucks
.
' director of scouting and development. During that year he also became an assistant on the Wolves' bench until the 2004–05 season. He returned to Minnesota as an assistant once again under head coach and former Celtics teammate Kevin McHale
for the 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 seasons.
, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
. For the three seasons he assisted under head coach Tom Crean
, where he helped the Golden Eagles
to three consecutive NCAA Tournament
appearances.
as an assistant coach to Keith Smart
.
fraternity at Purdue University
. Everyone in Sichting's family has a name starting with the letter J, including Jerry himself, his wife Joni, his three sons Jared, Jason and Jordan and his daughter Jenna. His son Jared was a walk-on on the Marquette University
basketball team that reached the Final Four
in 2003.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
1972-1975
Jerry Sichting, the 6'1", 175 lb guard, attended Martinsville High School, located in Martinsville, IndianaMartinsville, Indiana
Martinsville is a city in and the county seat of Morgan County, Indiana, United States; the population was 11,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. In his senior year, he led his school to a 21-2 record and averaged 21 points, while shooting 53 percent from the field and 83 percent at the line in three seasons. Chosen as a 1975 Indiana All-Star, the team toured Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
He also played football at the quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
position, where he led his team to an undefeated 10-0 season in 1974 and earned 10 letters in basketball, football and baseball.
1975–1979
After playing basketball at Martinsville High SchoolMartinsville High School (Indiana)
Martinsville High School is the only high school located in Martinsville, Indiana. It is part of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville. Students from Martinsville West Middle School and Martinsville East Middle School all attend Martinsville High School.-Location:Martinsville High...
under head coach Sam Alford
Steve Alford
Stephen Todd Alford is a retired American basketball player and the current head coach of the University of New Mexico Lobos men's basketball team...
, Jerry attended Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
, to play for head coach Fred Schaus
Fred Schaus
Frederick Appleton Schaus was an American basketball player, head coach and athletic director for the West Virginia University Mountaineers, player for the NBA's Fort Wayne Pistons and New York Knicks, general manager and head coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, head coach of Purdue University...
. In his freshman season, Jerry boasted a 54.5 field goal and 81.6 free throw percentage. Playing under Lee Rose during his Senior season and alongside All-American Joe Barry Carroll
Joe Barry Carroll
Joe Barry Carroll is a retired American professional basketball player who spent ten seasons in the NBA.-1974–1976:...
, he helped lead the Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
to a Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
title tie with the Earvin Johnson-led Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represents Michigan State University and competes in the Big Ten Conference of NCAA Division I. The team currently plays at the Breslin Student Events Center...
team. After losing the spot to be invited to the NCAA Tournament
1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1979 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9, 1979, and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City, Utah...
, Sichting led the Boilers to an NIT
1979 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:* Third Place - Alabama 96, Ohio State 86...
Finals appearance, losing to in-state conference rival, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Named a First Team All-Big Ten selection his Senior year, he currently holds the school career free-throw percentage record with .867 accuracy. He also left Purdue with the school record for consecutive free throws made with 34, which was broken three decades later by Robbie Hummel
Robbie Hummel
Robert John Hummel is an American college basketball player for Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana...
's 36.
1980–1985
Sichting was selected in the fourth round of the 1979 NBA Draft1979 NBA Draft
The 1979 NBA Draft was the 33rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 25, 1979, before the 1979–80 season. In this draft, 22 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, although he did not play a game for the Warriors. He began the 1980–81 season with the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, where he played for 5 seasons. His best season in his career came in the 1983–84 season, where he averaged 11.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists a game, while holding a .532 field goal percentage.
1985–1988
After five seasons with the Pacers, Sichting was traded to the Boston CelticsBoston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
to start the 1985–86 season. Teamed with fellow Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
native Larry Bird
Larry Bird
Larry Joe Bird is a former American NBA basketball player and coach. Drafted into the NBA sixth overall by the Boston Celtics in 1978, Bird started at small forward and power forward for thirteen seasons, spearheading one of the NBA's most formidable frontcourts that included center Robert Parish...
, Jerry became a role player off the bench for the Celtics' 1985–86 championship team. He is known for being involved in a fight with Houston Rockets
Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
center Ralph Sampson
Ralph Sampson
Ralph Lee Sampson, Jr. is a retired American college and professional basketball player.A 7-foot-4 phenom, three-time College Player of the Year, and No...
during Game 5 of the 1986 NBA Finals
1986 NBA Finals
The 1986 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1985-86 NBA season. It pitted the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics against the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets. The Celtics defeated the Rockets four games to two to win their 16th NBA championship. The championship would...
, resulting in Sampson's ejection.
1988–1990
Jerry played on the Portland Trail BlazersPortland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
during the 1988–89 season and then was traded to the Charlotte Hornets for his last full season. He retired in 1990 after playing one game with the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
.
1990–1995
After he retired, he returned to Boston, Massachusetts, where he ran his Jerry Sichting basketball Camp for five years and served as a Boston Celtics analyst on radio broadcasts. He also did broadcasts for pregame shows for his alma mater Purdue University and various Indiana high school games.1995–2005 and 2008–2010
In 1995, Sichting became the Minnesota TimberwolvesMinnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
' director of scouting and development. During that year he also became an assistant on the Wolves' bench until the 2004–05 season. He returned to Minnesota as an assistant once again under head coach and former Celtics teammate Kevin McHale
Kevin McHale
Kevin Edward McHale is a retired American professional basketball player and current head coach of the Houston Rockets. After his playing career, he worked for the Minnesota Timberwolves as the team's general manager and later its coach. He was fired as coach in June 2009...
for the 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 seasons.
2005–2008
Jerry Sichting served as an assistant coach at Marquette UniversityMarquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
, located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
. For the three seasons he assisted under head coach Tom Crean
Tom Crean (basketball coach)
Thomas Aaron "Tom" Crean is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team...
, where he helped the Golden Eagles
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I...
to three consecutive NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearances.
2010-2011
On September 27, 2010, Sichting was hired by the Golden State WarriorsGolden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
as an assistant coach to Keith Smart
Keith Smart
Jonathan Keith Smart is a retired American basketball player and current assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. He is best remembered for hitting the game-winning shot in the 1987 NCAA championship game. The shot gave the Indiana Hoosiers a 74–73 victory over the Syracuse Orangemen...
.
Personal
Sichting is a member of the Beta Mu Chapter of the Beta Theta PiBeta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
fraternity at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
. Everyone in Sichting's family has a name starting with the letter J, including Jerry himself, his wife Joni, his three sons Jared, Jason and Jordan and his daughter Jenna. His son Jared was a walk-on on the Marquette University
Marquette University
Marquette University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1881, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities...
basketball team that reached the Final Four
2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 2003, and ended with the championship game on April 7 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
in 2003.
External links
- NBA stats @ basketballreference.com
- Houston Rockets Official Site: 1986 Finals