Bill Laimbeer's name sparks one thing in the collective mind of the Detroit community - the desire to win and achieve success in whatever he is involved with.

In the middle of the 2002 WNBA season, Laimbeer took over the head coaching position for the Detroit Shock. A year later, he led the franchise to its first WNBA championship and was named Coach of the Year that season. It marked the first time in WNBA history that a team other than Los Angeles or Houston won the title. On September 9, 2006 Laimbeer led the Shock to their second WNBA championship against the Sacramento Monarchs in five games.

In 2008, Laimbeer helped the Shock win their third WNBA title in six years, defeating San Antonio on October 5, 2008.

Laimbeer oversees Detroit's basketball staff, its roster development and all player acquisitions while also coaching the team on the floor. Laimbeer joined the Shock prior to the 02 season as a special consultant, assisting the Shock organization in marketing and ticket sales, as well as providing an experienced sounding board for the coaching staff. As a recognized name in the Detroit area, Laimbeer provides instant credibility to every Shock initiative, on and off the court. He brings hands-on NBA experience, from both a basketball and a business perspective.

He began his NBA career after being drafted in the third round (65th Overall) by Cleveland in the 1979 draft. He was traded from Cleveland to Detroit along with Kenny Carr in exchange for Phil Hubbard, Paul Mokeski and future first and second round draft choices on February 16, 1982. A four-time NBA All-Star, Laimbeer was known as one of the nastiest members of the famed Bad Boys of the late 1980s that won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. The Pistons franchise leader in total rebounds (9,430), Laimbeer averaged 12.9 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 2.0 apg in 1,068 games during his 14-year NBA career with Cleveland and Detroit. In 113 playoff games with the Pistons, he averaged 12.0 ppg, 9.7 rpg and 1.7 apg. He was the NBAs leading rebounder in 1985-86 with 13.1 rpg. Laimbeer announced his retirement from the NBA on December 1, 1993. Recognized as one of the all-time best centers in franchise history, on February 4, 1995 he became one of six Pistons players to have their number retired.

A fierce competitor, Laimbeer finished his career with a 580-434 (.572) overall regular season record as a member of the Pistons. Preparing himself for an eventual coaching career, he was able to learn from Chuck Daly, the all-time winningest coach in Pistons history (467-271, .633, regular season and 71-42, .628, playoffs).

As a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, he helped the squad to the Final Four in 1978 and was eliminated by the eventual National Champion Michigan State Spartans in the finals of the Mideast Region during his senior season of 1979. He graduated later that year with a degree in Economics.

A native of Boston, MA, Laimbeer's interests off the court include golfing and coaching girls AAU basketball. He and his wife, Chris, have two children, Eric and Kerriann.