Bob Ociepka
Encyclopedia
Bob Ociepka is an NBA assistant coach for the NBA
's Portland Trail Blazers
. He has served as coach within the NBA for eighteen seasons.
, Illinois
and played college basketball at Quincy College
. He is considered one of the best prep coaches in Chicago Catholic League history and head-coached Gordon Tech and York High Schools in the early 1980s. In 2000, he was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame for his contribution to prep sports.
in the 1980s. He was the head coach at York High School in Elmhurst, IL for four years during this time.
He was first hired as an assistant coach in 1989 for the Indiana Pacers
. Ociepka has also served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers
from 1993 to 1996, the Philadelphia 76ers
from 1996 to 1997, the Cleveland Cavaliers
from 1999 to 2001, the Detroit Pistons
from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2003, the Milwaukee Bucks
from 2003 to 2006, and the Minnesota Timberwolves
from 2007 to 2008.
Ociepka also served as an advance scout during the 1998 season
for the Orlando Magic
.
From 2008 to 2010, Ociepka was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls
and rookie head coach Vinny Del Negro
. In 2010, following Del Negro's firing from the Bulls, Ociepka was hired as an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers
.
During his time in the NBA, Ociepka has also written two insightful books on basketball strategies. Basketball Playbook: Plays From the Pros was published in 1995 and Basketball Playbook 2: More Plays from the Pros was published in 2001.
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...
's Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
. He has served as coach within the NBA for eighteen seasons.
Early life
Ociepka is a native of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
and played college basketball at Quincy College
Quincy College
Quincy College is a public junior college located in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is an open admission commuter school that offers associate's degrees in professional fields of study.-History:...
. He is considered one of the best prep coaches in Chicago Catholic League history and head-coached Gordon Tech and York High Schools in the early 1980s. In 2000, he was inducted into the Chicago Catholic League Hall of Fame for his contribution to prep sports.
NBA career
While coaching high school basketball, Ociepka served as a part-time volunteer scout for the Detroit PistonsDetroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in the 1980s. He was the head coach at York High School in Elmhurst, IL for four years during this time.
He was first hired as an assistant coach in 1989 for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Ociepka has also served as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
from 1993 to 1996, 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...
from 1996 to 1997, the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
from 1999 to 2001, the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
from 1998 to 1999 and again from 2001 to 2003, the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
from 2003 to 2006, and the Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Founded in 1989, the team is currently owned by Glen Taylor...
from 2007 to 2008.
Ociepka also served as an advance scout during the 1998 season
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
for 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...
.
From 2008 to 2010, Ociepka was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
and rookie head coach Vinny Del Negro
Vinny Del Negro
Vincent Joseph "Vinny" Del Negro is a retired American basketball player. He is the current head coach of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, and was the head coach of the Chicago Bulls from 2008 until 2010.-Early life:...
. In 2010, following Del Negro's firing from the Bulls, Ociepka was hired as an assistant for the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
.
During his time in the NBA, Ociepka has also written two insightful books on basketball strategies. Basketball Playbook: Plays From the Pros was published in 1995 and Basketball Playbook 2: More Plays from the Pros was published in 2001.