Tom Thibodeau

Posted on April 23, 2014 Updated on April 23, 2014

Most recently known as Head Coach for the Chicago Bulls, Coach Tom Thibodeau has been with the NBA for over 21 years. But before Thibodeau was coaching the Chicago Bulls or even in the NBA for that matter, he was playing basketball at Salem State University. Thibodeau was the team captain in his senior year and then later coached at Harvard for about four seasons until he was hired to work with Bill Musselman’s coaching staff for the Timberwolves in 1989. Thibodeau was quickly promoted to Assistant Coach until 1991, and was also Assistant coach for the  San Antonio Spurs from 1992-1994, the Philadelphia 76ers from 1994-1996, the New York Knicks from 1996-2003, the Houston Rockets from 2003-2007, and the Boston Celtics from 2007-2010. While Thibodeau was the Associate Head Coach for the Celtics they were in the NBA Finals twice and won the 2008 NBA Championship. Finally in 2010, Thibodeau became Head Coach for the Chicago Bulls. During his first season Tom led the Bulls to the Finals, which had not happened in 12 years. Thibodeau and the Bulls also won the Central Division title with a 60-win season, making him the third coach in NBA history to win that many games in his first year. Thibodeau had made quite some noise with his coaching skills and was named the 2010-2011 NBA Coash of the Year along with the NBA’s Eastern Conference Coach of the month for January, March and April. During his second year he continued to break many records for the Chicago Bulls and the NBA history in general. In season two, he was runner-up for the 2011-2012 NBA Coach of the Year. And in his final year, without the Bull’s star guard, Rose, he continues to push his players and persevere. This year, the Bulls are agian in the Playoffs and trying to stay afloat in the first round against the Wizards. Thibodeau has been an absolute gain for the Chicago Bulls and has proven himself to be the best coach for them. I believe that Thibodeau and this year’s Bulls players have grown together and have built strong relationships that will help them to make the Finals this year, despite not having Rose around. We can only hope this is the year of the Bulls. To read more about Coach Thibodeau and the Chicago Bulls, click here.