Biography of Doc Rivers

Glenn "Doc" Rivers  was named Head Coach of the Boston Celtics on April 29, 2004, becoming the 16th Head Coach in franchise history.

In his first Season as Head Coach of the Boston Celtics Rivers led the club to a 45-37 (.549) record as well as the teams first Atlantic Division title since the 1991-92.

Rivers is only the fourth coach in franchise history to have earned the NBA Coach of the Year Award, joining Tom Heinsohn (1972-73), Bill Fitch (who won it with Cleveland (1975-76) and Boston (1979-80)) and Red Auerbach (1964-65), for whom the trophy is named.

Rivers, born on October 13, 1961, spent four plus seasons as the Head Coach of the Orlando Magic. In his first year at the helm in Orlando he led a team predicted by most to finish near or at the bottom of the league that included four starters who were not drafted. Rivers guided the team to a 41-41 record, and for his efforts, Rivers was named the 1999-2000 NBA Coach-of-the-Year.

Despite having eight new players and the loss of six-time All-Star Grant Hill to injury in 2000-01, Rivers led the Orlando Magic to a 43-39 (.524) record, including a franchise record tying nine-game winning streak and posted a 24-17 (.585) record during the second half of the season, which led to a berth in the 2001 NBA Playoffs.

During the 2001-02 campaign, Rivers helped the Magic improve on their previous season, finishing with a 44-38 (.537) record and their second straight playoff berth. Once again Rivers led the Magic to a strong second half with a 24-17 (.585) record.

In 2002-03 Rivers and the Magic finished with a 42-40 (.512) record and their third consecutive trip to the playoffs. Despite battling numerous injuries and starting 21 different lineups, the Magic finished the second half of the season with a strong playoff push, in typical Rivers fashion, with a 22-19 (.537) record.

Rivers served as an analyst, paired with Al Michaels, for ABC Sports coverage of the NBA in 2003-04, following his release from the Magic on November 17, 2003. Overall he compiled a 171-168 record (.506) in his four-plus seasons as Orlando's Head Coach, advancing the team to the playoffs three times.

Rivers played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Atlanta Hawks (1983-84 to 1990-91), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92), New York Knicks (1992-93 to 1993-94) and San Antonio Spurs (1994 to 1995-96). He played for three of the game's top coaches in Pat Riley, Larry Brown and Mike Fratello, and holds career averages of 10.9 points, 5.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game. His teams advanced to the NBA Playoffs 10 times, where he averaged 11.4 points, 5.9 assists and 3.3 rebounds. Rivers saw action in 864 regular season games and 81 playoff games over the course of his career.

Rivers averaged a double-double in 1986-87 (12.8 points per game, 10.0 assists per game) and was selected to play in the 1988 NBA All-Star Game. He averaged a career-best 15.2 points per game in 1990-91. He scored a career-high 37 points against Seattle on February 4, 1988. He also shares an NBA single-game playoff record for most assists in one half (15 vs. Boston, May 16, 1988).

Drafted after his junior season out of Marquette by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round (31st overall) of the 1983 NBA Draft, he played the first eight years of his career with Atlanta, setting the Hawks' single-season assists record with 823 in 1986-87, and ending his stint with the team as the franchises all-time assist leader with 3,866.

A product of Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, Rivers earned the nickname "Doc" from former Marquette coach Rick Majerus, when he wore a "Dr. J" t-shirt to a summer basketball camp. Rivers played for the United States at the 1982 World Championship of Basketball, leading the U.S. to a silver medal and earning tournament MVP honors after averaging a team-best 18.6 points per game During the summer of 2001, he served as an assistant coach for the USA Men's Basketball Team at the Goodwill Games in Brisbane, Australia, that captured the Gold Medal.

Rivers earned a pre-law/political science degree from Marquette in 1985 and was honored by the Pro Basketball Writers with the 1990 J. Walter Kennedy Basketball Citizenship Award. Following the 1999-2000 season, Rivers was named Male Coach-of-the-Year at the Rainbow Sports Awards, which reflect not only accomplishments in the sports industry, but also the grace, dignity, commitment and humanity each individual exemplifies.

He is also active in the community, being a member of the All-Star Advisory Council for the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA youth basketball support program, offering instrumental guidance to the player, coach and parent training efforts for recreational youth basketball leagues across the country.

Born on October 13, 1961, Rivers is the nephew of former NBA player and Celtics Assistant Coach Jim Brewer, and the cousin of former NBA player Byron Irvin and baseball player Ken Singleton. Rivers and his wife, Kris, have four children: Jeremiah, Callie, Austin and Spencer.