Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | October 28, 1959
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Indiana) |
College | Indiana (1978–1983) |
NBA draft | 1983: 1st round, 22nd overall pick |
Selected by the Washington Bullets | |
Playing career | 1983–1992 |
Position | Shooting guard |
Number | 10, 14 |
Coaching career | 1992–2016 |
Career history | |
As player: | |
1983–1988 | Atlanta Hawks |
1988–1989 | Sacramento Kings |
1989–1992 | Indiana Pacers |
As coach: | |
1992–1993 | Indiana Pacers (assistant) |
1993–1994 | Dallas Mavericks (assistant) |
1994–1999 | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
1999–2001 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
2001–2005 | Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant) |
2005–2006 | Orlando Magic (assistant) |
2006–2008 | Minnesota Timberwolves |
2009–2012 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
2012–2016 | Washington Wizards |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Career NBA statistics | |
Points | 4,034 (7.4 ppg) |
Rebounds | 760 (1.4 rpg) |
Assists | 1,201 (2.2 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball Reference |
Randy Scott Wittman (born October 28, 1959) is an American former basketball player at the guard position and former coach of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Washington Wizards.
Wittman starred for Indianapolis Ben Davis High School from 1975 to 1978. He averaged more than 23 points a game for Ben Davis, which remains the second-highest average at the school, and became one of the nation's top recruits. [1] In 1978 he was second to Brad Leaf of all Marion County, Indiana, scorers. [2]
The 6'6" Wittman played college basketball from 1979 to 1983 for Bob Knight and the Indiana University Hoosiers. The 1979–80 Hoosiers, led by Isiah Thomas, won the Big Ten championship and advanced to the 1980 Sweet Sixteen. The following season, in 1980–81, the Hoosiers once again won a conference title and advanced to the NCAA Championship, beating the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Hoosiers trailed the entire first half of the game until Wittman scored at the halftime buzzer with a deep corner shot. [3] [4] The Hoosiers went on to win the game by a 63–50 tally, making the 1981 NCAA tournament the school's fourth national title.
In 1982–1983, with the leadership of Wittman, the No. 1 ranked Hoosiers were favorites to win another national championship. However, with an injury to star player Ted Kitchel mid-season, the Hoosiers' prospects were grim. Knight asked for fan support to rally around the team and, despite long odds, the team ultimately won the Big Ten title. Nevertheless, in the tournament Kitchel's absence was felt and the team lost to Kentucky in the 1983 Sweet Sixteen. Wittman was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a consensus second team All-American in 1983. He became a member of Indiana's Hall of Fame and was named to Indiana's Silver Anniversary Basketball Team, in March 1996.
Wittman was selected by the Washington Bullets with the 22nd pick of the 1983 NBA draft. However, he never played for the Bullets with his rights being traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
Wittman spent the early portion of his career with the Hawks, sharing backcourt with Glenn "Doc" Rivers and Anthony "Spud" Webb, and starting most of the games from 1985 to 1988 (while averaging 12 points and 3.5 assists in those years combined).
After a small spell with the Sacramento Kings, he became a fringe player with the Indiana Pacers, retiring in 1991–92 after three unassuming years. For his career, Wittman averaged 7.4 points, 1.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, shooting just over 50% from the field.
In 1992, Wittman began his NBA coaching career as an assistant coach, first with the Pacers. He spent one season in Indianapolis and another with the Dallas Mavericks (and later with the Orlando Magic).
Subsequently, Wittman spent from 1994 to 1999 with the Minnesota Timberwolves, in the same capacity. During that period, he helped in the development of Wolves' star forward Kevin Garnett. Wittman then served as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers for two seasons, (1999–2001), compiling a record of 62–102.
On January 23, 2007, Wittman became the head coach of the Timberwolves, succeeding Dwane Casey; he had already started the season as assistant to the former.
On December 8, 2008, club owner Glen Taylor fired Wittman after a 4–19 start, asking Kevin McHale to step in, in a complete change of the organization's structure, as the former Boston Celtics great had been Minnesota's vice-president of basketball operations since 1995.
Wittman became acting head coach of the Washington Wizards, accepting the position after Flip Saunders was fired in January 2012 for a 2–15 start. On June 4, 2012, the Wizards announced that Wittman would be retained as the official head coach of the team for the 2012–2013 season. [5]
The Wizards improved from 29–53 to 44–38 during the 2013–14 season, which included advancing to the second round of the playoffs for just the third time since 1979 before losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games. The Wizards had a 5–1 record in away games during both series, but were unable to win a home game in the second round. Wittman was praised for his strategy and leadership throughout the playoffs by both players and management alike.
Wittman signed an extension to remain head coach of the Wizards on June 3, 2014. [6]
The Wizards fired Wittman on April 13, 2016, after the team missed the playoffs. [7] [8]
On September 18, 2017, Wittman was hired by the Orlando Magic as a coaching consultant. [9]
His son Ryan Wittman starred for the Cornell Big Red basketball team; he helped lead the Big Red to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 20 years during the 2007–08 season, again in 2009, [10] and to Cornell's first-ever NCAA basketball tournament victories in 2010 over the Temple Owls and Wisconsin Badgers as the Big Red made its first-ever trip to the NCAA Men's Sweet 16. [11]
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland | 1999–00 | 82 | 32 | 50 | .390 | 6th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Cleveland | 2000–01 | 82 | 30 | 52 | .366 | 6th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Minnesota | 2006–07 | 42 | 12 | 30 | .286 | 4th in Northwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Minnesota | 2007–08 | 82 | 22 | 60 | .268 | 5th in Northwest | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Minnesota | 2008–09 | 19 | 4 | 15 | .211 | (fired) | — | — | — | — | — |
Washington | 2011–12 | 49 | 18 | 31 | .367 | 4th in Southeast | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Washington | 2012–13 | 82 | 29 | 53 | .354 | 3rd in Southeast | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Washington | 2013–14 | 82 | 44 | 38 | .537 | 2nd in Southeast | 11 | 6 | 5 | .545 | Lost in Conference semifinals |
Washington | 2014–15 | 82 | 46 | 36 | .561 | 2nd in Southeast | 10 | 6 | 4 | .600 | Lost in Conference semifinals |
Washington | 2015–16 | 82 | 41 | 41 | .500 | 4th in Southeast | — | — | — | — | Missed playoffs |
Career | 684 | 278 | 406 | .406 | 21 | 12 | 9 | .571 |
Hoosier hysteria is the state of excitement surrounding basketball in Indiana or, more specifically, the Indiana high school basketball tournament. The most famous example occurred in 1954, when Milan defeated Muncie Central to win the state title.
The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was founded in 1967 as an original member of the American Basketball Association (ABA) and became a member of the NBA in 1976 as a result of the ABA–NBA merger. They play their home games at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The team is named after the state of Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500's pace cars and with the harness racing industry.
Stephen Todd Alford is an American men's college basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach for the Nevada Wolf Pack of the Mountain West Conference (MWC). Born and raised in Indiana, he was a two-time consensus first-team All-American playing in college for the Indiana Hoosiers. He led them to a national championship in 1987. After playing professionally for four years in the National Basketball Association (NBA), he has been a college head coach for over 30 years.
Michael Dean Woodson is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team.
Dwane Lyndon Casey is an American basketball coach who most recently served as the head coach of the Detroit Pistons before transitioning to a front office position with the team. He is a former NCAA basketball player and coach, having played and coached there for over a decade before moving on to the NBA. He was previously the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Toronto Raptors, with whom he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 2018.
Ben Davis High School (BDHS) is a three-year high school in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Calbert Nathaniel Cheaney is an American basketball coach and former player who serves as Director of player development for the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball of the Big Ten. He starred as a player for the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball from 1989 to 1993 under coach Bob Knight. Cheaney ended his career as a three-time All-American and remains the Big Ten's all-time leading scorer with 2,613 career points. He led Indiana to a 105–27 record and the NCAA Tournament all four years, including a Final Four appearance in 1992.
Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders was an American basketball player and coach. During his career, he coached the La Crosse Catbirds, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards.
Fredrick Kristian Hoiberg is an American college basketball coach and former player. He has served as the men's head basketball coach at the University of Nebraska since 2019. Hoiberg grew up in Ames, Iowa, and played college basketball at Iowa State University in Ames where he earned the nickname "the Mayor". He was drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA) where, over his ten-year career, he played for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Timberwolves. After retiring as a player, he served as vice president for basketball operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater, Iowa State University. He was there from 2010 to 2015 before going on to coach in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls from 2015 to 2018.
Samuel E. Mitchell Jr. is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Playing at small forward, Mitchell's 18-year professional basketball career spanned three decades, and was most notable for his ten seasons with the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves, whom he also coached as an interim for the 2015–16 season. Mitchell coached for the Toronto Raptors from 2004 to 2008 as well, winning Coach of the Year Award in 2007.
The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the demonym for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 24 sports and became a member of the Big Ten Conference on December 1, 1899. The school's official colors are cream and crimson.
William Quinn Buckner is an American former professional basketball player and coach. He played collegiate basketball for the Indiana University Hoosiers, and won a national championship in 1976. He was a captain of both the last undefeated NCAA Division I basketball champion and the 1976 Olympics gold medal team. Buckner was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 7th pick of the 1976 NBA draft. He had a ten-year NBA career for three teams. In 1984, he won an NBA title with the Celtics.
Jerry Lee Sichting is an American basketball coach and retired player of the National Basketball Association (NBA).
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers play at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Branch McCracken Court in Bloomington, Indiana on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Indiana has won five National Championships in men's basketball – two coming under Branch McCracken and three under Bob Knight. For forty-seven years and counting, Indiana's 1976 squad remains the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion.
The Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represents Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. The school's team currently competes in the Big East Conference. They play their home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Ryan Scott Wittman is an American former basketball player, best known for his college career at Cornell University. As of 2024, he holds the record for the most three-point field goals in men's Ivy League history.
Ted Daniel Kitchel is a retired American basketball player. He was a two-time All-American at Indiana University and represented the United States in the 1982 FIBA World Championship in Colombia. Kitchel played professionally in Italy and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996.
The 1982–83 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. Their head coach was Bobby Knight, who was in his 12th year. The team played its home games in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.
Landon Montel Turner is an American former basketball player. He played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers and won an NCAA championship as a junior in 1981. Hoosiers head coach Bob Knight considered Turner to have the potential to be the best player he ever coached. Primed for a breakthrough senior season and considered a top National Basketball Association (NBA) draft pick, Turner's basketball career came to an end when he was paralyzed from the chest down in a car accident in July 1981. He stayed with the Hoosiers as a team captain during the 1981–82 season before the Boston Celtics honored Turner by selecting him as the final pick of the 1982 NBA draft. He played wheelchair basketball for three years before he embarked on a career as a motivational speaker. Turner is a member of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame.
The 2021–22 Big Ten men's basketball season was the season for Big Ten Conference basketball teams that began with practices in October 2021, followed by the start of the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season in November 2021. The regular season ended in March 2022.