Ron Rothstein
Encyclopedia
Ronald "Ron" Rothstein is an American professional basketball
coach and former 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.
Rothstein played college ball at the University of Rhode Island
where he was captain of the 1964 season. After that, he was a teacher and coach at Upsala College
in New Jersey
(1974–75) and Eastchester High School
in New York. During the summer of 1967, he was the athletic director at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York
. Rothstein also attended Hunter College.
In 1979, Rothstein signed as a scout for the Atlanta Hawks
, eventually becoming an assistant coach there in 1983. He was signed as an assistant for the Detroit Pistons
in 1986 before becoming the first coach in Heat history (1988).
Rothstein coached the Heat for three seasons, never leading them to a winning record. Rothstein became a television commentator for the Pistons; Detroit eventually hired him as their head coach for two seasons, 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,. 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.
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...
coach and former college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
player, who has led many different 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...
teams. He served as the first head coach for the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, and later coached the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. He has also coached in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). In 2007-08, he also filled in for Pat Riley
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
as an interim coach for the Heat.
Rothstein played college ball at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
where he was captain of the 1964 season. After that, he was a teacher and coach at Upsala College
Upsala College
Upsala College was a private college in East Orange, New Jersey, USA, founded in 1893. Construction of the campus started in 1900. The college closed in 1995, after several years of financial problems.-History:...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(1974–75) and Eastchester High School
Eastchester High School
Eastchester High School is located in Westchester County, New York in the town of Eastchester. It is a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon school with approximately 760 students. Some graduates have gained acceptance to schools such as Bucknell, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Duke,...
in New York. During the summer of 1967, he was the athletic director at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York
Bethel, New York
Bethel is a town in Sullivan County, New York, USA. The population has been estimated at 4,532 in 2007.The town received worldwide fame after it became the host of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, which was originally planned for Wallkill, New York, but was relocated to Bethel after Wallkill withdrew.-...
. Rothstein also attended Hunter College.
In 1979, Rothstein signed as a scout for the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
, eventually becoming an assistant coach there in 1983. He was signed as an assistant for the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in 1986 before becoming the first coach in Heat history (1988).
Rothstein coached the Heat for three seasons, never leading them to a winning record. Rothstein became a television commentator for the Pistons; Detroit eventually hired him as their head coach for two seasons, but he was eventually fired. In 1993, he was hired as an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, where he stayed six seasons. In 2000, he was hired as head coach and general manager for the WNBA's Miami Sol
Miami Sol
The Miami Sol was a women's basketball team which joined the Women's National Basketball Association in 2000. They played their games at American Airlines Arena. The team folded after the 2002 season because of financial problems...
, where he stayed during the franchise's entire existence (2000–2003). In 2003, he was hired by 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...
as an assistant coach,. 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
Pat Riley
Patrick James "Pat" Riley is an American professional basketball executive, and a retired coach and player in the NBA. Currently, he is team president of the Miami Heat. Widely regarded as one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time, Riley has served as the head coach of five championship teams...
, who took a leave of absence for knee and hip surgery.