Tony DiLeo
Encyclopedia
Tony DiLeo is an American basketball
coach. He served as the 21st head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
of the NBA
, taking over the position mid-season on December 13, 2008 after then-head coach Maurice Cheeks
was fired after starting the season with a 9–14 record. The team went 32–27 under DiLeo's leadership (finishing the season 41-41 overall), and lost their Eastern Conference
quarterfinals series
to the Orlando Magic
. At the end of the season, DiLeo withdrew his name from consideration to return as head coach, opting instead to return to the Sixers' front office as senior vice president and assistant general manager.
, where, as a junior, he was named first-team Academic All-American and went on to graduate maxima cum laude from the La Salle School of Business.
on December 13, 2008, DiLeo was named interim head coach. Taking over the Sixers who had started the season with a 9-14 record, DiLeo managed to finish the 2008–09 season
with a 41–41 record. This record was good enough to clinch the Sixers the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference
for the playoffs
and a matchup with the third seeded Southeast Division
champion Orlando Magic
. After taking game one of the series, the team lost four of five, including an ugly series-clinching loss in game six. On May 12, it was reported that DiLeo had asked team president and general manager Ed Stefanski
to remove his name from consideration to return as head coach. DiLeo opted instead to return to the Sixers' front office as senior vice president and assistant general manager.
| align="left" |PHI
| align="left" |
|59||32||27||.542|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
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– T. J., at Temple University
, and Max, at Monmouth University
. The family lives in South Jersey
.
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. He served as the 21st head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
of 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...
, taking over the position mid-season on December 13, 2008 after then-head coach Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Cheeks
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeks is a retired American professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association from May 23, 2005 to December 13, 2008...
was fired after starting the season with a 9–14 record. The team went 32–27 under DiLeo's leadership (finishing the season 41-41 overall), and lost their Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
quarterfinals series
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
to the Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. At the end of the season, DiLeo withdrew his name from consideration to return as head coach, opting instead to return to the Sixers' front office as senior vice president and assistant general manager.
Collegiate career
DiLeo played basketball at Tennessee Tech and La Salle UniversityLa Salle University
La Salle University is a private, co-educational, Roman Catholic university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Named for St. Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, the school was founded in 1863 by the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. As of 2008 the school has approximately 7,554...
, where, as a junior, he was named first-team Academic All-American and went on to graduate maxima cum laude from the La Salle School of Business.
International basketball
DiLeo was involved international basketball as both a player and a coach. He won nine national titles in the former West Germany's top divisions, seven in the women's (with DJK Agon 08 Düsseldorf) and two in the men's competition (with BSC Saturn Köln), and earned Coach of the Year honors in 1987. He also held the role of West German federation Women's National Coach from 1981–85. While in Europe, he wrote and published the European Basketball Handbook, a guide designed to acclimate American players overseas.Philadelphia 76ers
DiLeo has been a part of the 76ers basketball operations department since the 1990–91 season. After spending years within the organization in positions including director of scouting and assistant coach, DiLeo notably held the positions of Director of Player Personnel from 1999 to 2003 and was promoted to Senior vice president/assistant general manager in September 2003.2008-09 season
After the 76ers fired Maurice CheeksMaurice Cheeks
Maurice Edward "Mo" Cheeks is a retired American professional basketball player and assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder. He was the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association from May 23, 2005 to December 13, 2008...
on December 13, 2008, DiLeo was named interim head coach. Taking over the Sixers who had started the season with a 9-14 record, DiLeo managed to finish the 2008–09 season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
with a 41–41 record. This record was good enough to clinch the Sixers the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, organized in three divisions of five teams each.The three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their records, with all...
for the playoffs
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
and a matchup with the third seeded Southeast Division
Southeast Division (NBA)
The Southeast Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . The division consists of five teams, the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Bobcats, the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic and the Washington WizardsThe division was created at the start of...
champion Orlando Magic
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic is a professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association and are currently coached by Stan Van Gundy...
. After taking game one of the series, the team lost four of five, including an ugly series-clinching loss in game six. On May 12, it was reported that DiLeo had asked team president and general manager Ed Stefanski
Ed Stefanski
Edward Stefanski is the Executive Vice-President of Basketball Operations for the Toronto Raptors. He was the General Manager for the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA, serving from 2007 to 2011, when he was dismissed by the new 76ers ownership led by Josh Harris on October 18...
to remove his name from consideration to return as head coach. DiLeo opted instead to return to the Sixers' front office as senior vice president and assistant general manager.
Coaching record
|-| align="left" |PHI
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
| align="left" |
|59||32||27||.542|| align="center" |2nd in Atlantic||6||2||4||.333
| align="center" |Lost in First Round
2009 NBA Playoffs
The 2009 NBA Playoffs was the postseason for the National Basketball Association's 2008–09 season. The playoffs started on April 18, 2009 with ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV broadcasting the games in the United States...
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
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Personal
DiLeo is married to Anna DiLeo, a former German Olympic and club basketball player, originally from Romania. They have two sons who both play college basketballCollege 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....
– T. J., at Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
, and Max, at Monmouth University
Monmouth University
Monmouth University is a private university located in West Long Branch, New Jersey, United States.Founded in 1933 as Monmouth Junior College, it became Monmouth College in 1956, and later Monmouth University in 1995 after receiving its charter....
. The family lives in South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
.