Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population is 43,298 -History:Members of the Potawatomi Indian tribe, who settled along Salt Creek just south of where the city would develop, are the earliest known settlers of the Elmhurst area.
Jeffrey John Hornacek ' onMouseout='HidePop("56411")' href="http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Elmhurst,_Illinois">Elmhurst, Illinois
Elmhurst is a suburb of Chicago in DuPage County, Illinois. The population is 43,298 -History:Members of the Potawatomi Indian tribe, who settled along Salt Creek just south of where the city would develop, are the earliest known settlers of the Elmhurst area. Around 1836, European immigrants...
) is a retired
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of 5 players try to score points against one another by placing a ball through a
10 foot high hoop under organized rules...
player who played at the
shooting guardThe shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
position in the
NBAThe National Basketball Association is a professional basketball league, composed of thirty teams in North America . It is an active member of USA Basketball , which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the National Governing Body for basketball in the United States...
from
1986The 1986–87 NBA season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their fourth championship of the decade, beating the Boston Celtics 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
–
2000The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 54th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA championship, beating the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2 in the 2000 NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
.
Elementary School
He attended Komarek elementary school in North Riverside, IL.
He attended Gurrie Middle school in LaGrange, IL.
College
RedshirtedRedshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to delaying or suspending an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
at
Iowa State UniversityThe Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced a number of astronauts, scientists, Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners,...
(ISU) in 1981, he was a campus walk-on from 1982–1986, the son of a high school basketball coach became an all-conference player in the
Big Eight ConferenceThe Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored American football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri,...
, playing for legendary coach
Johnny OrrJohn M. "Johnny" Orr is a retired American basketball player and coach, best known as the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Michigan and at Iowa State University.- Life as a player :...
. As a
point guardPoint guard , also called the one or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position -- essentially, they are expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it...
he guided the
CyclonesThe Iowa State Cyclones are the athletic teams of Iowa State University. The university is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 16 varsity teams in 11 sports.-Overview:...
to the Sweet 16 of the
1986The 1986 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1986, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Dallas, Texas...
NCAAThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a voluntary association of about 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States and Canada...
tournamentThe NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single elimination tournament held each spring featuring 65 college basketball teams. college basketball teams in the United States...
. His shining moment came at the
MetrodomeThe Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, often simply called The Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. The field was renamed Mall of America Field at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in October 2009...
in
Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis is the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Hennepin County. The city lies on both banks of the Mississippi River, just north of the river's confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Saint Paul, the state's capital. Known as the Twin Cities,...
when, after first hitting a shot to tie the game and send it to
overtimeOvertime is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring the game to a decision and avoid declaring the contest a tie or draw...
, Jeff hit the game winning shot in overtime, a 26-ft jumper at the buzzer, to give ISU its first NCAA tournament victory since
1944The 1944 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 24, 1944, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in New York City...
, beating
Miami (Ohio)Miami University, in Oxford, Ohio, features 18 different varsity level sports teams for men and women, all of which are known as the Miami RedHawks...
, March 14 1986, 81-79 (
Ron HarperRonald Harper is a retired American professional basketball player whose career spanned from 1986 to 2001 with four teams in the NBA...
was the starting shooting guard for Miami). Two days later, he led the Cyclones to the NCAA Tournament "Sweet Sixteen," in a 72-69 upset of second seed
MichiganThe Michigan Wolverines comprise 24 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo,...
. Orr, who left Michigan to coach at Iowa State, called it the greatest victory of his career. Hornacek left ISU with a Big-8 record of 665 career assists, still an Iowa State school record, and 1,313 career points.
NBA career
He was the 22nd pick in the second round (46th overall) of the
1986 NBA Draft-Drug and health issues involving drafted players:There were various drug-related problems that plagued players in the 1986 NBA draft. Most notable was the death of highly-touted Len Bias. Bias died less than two days after being selected second overall by the defending champion Boston Celtics. His...
, by the
Phoenix SunsThe Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Their home arena is the US Airways Center in downtown Phoenix at Copper Square.The Suns have been generally...
. He became a star for the Suns, but after his sixth and most productive season, he was traded (along with
Andrew LangAndrew Charles Lang Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA.After a four-year career at the University of Arkansas, Lang was selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 3rd pick in the 2nd round of the 1988 NBA draft. He quickly developed a reputation as a proficient...
and
Tim PerryTimothy D. Perry is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA.Following a college career at Temple University, Perry was selected seventh overall by the Phoenix Suns in the 1988 NBA Draft...
) to the
Philadelphia 76ersThe Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association .-Syracuse Nationals:...
for
Charles BarkleyCharles "Chuck" Wade Barkley is an American retired professional basketball player. Nicknamed "Sir Charles" for his aggressive and outspoken demeanor, and "The Round Mound of Rebound" for his unusual build and talent, Barkley established himself as one of the National Basketball Association's ...
. With
Hersey HawkinsHersey R. Hawkins, Jr. is a retired American professional basketball player. After starring at Westinghouse High School in Chicago, the 6' 3" shooting guard attended Bradley University, where he averaged an NCAA Division I-high 36.3 points per game in 1988...
, the Sixers' leading scorer, in the shooting guard position, Hornacek was assigned point guard responsibilities. Although he had a career high 6.9 assists per game in his only complete season with the Sixers (
1992-1993 seasonThe 1992–93 NBA season was the 47th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third-straight NBA Championship, beating the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
), his stint as a point guard was not a success (26 wins, 56 losses). Midway through the
1993-1994 seasonThe 1993–94 NBA season was the 48th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Houston Rockets defeating the New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals to win the franchise's first championship.-Notable occurrences:...
(February 24) he was traded to the
Utah JazzThe Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
(for
Jeff MaloneJeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Mississippi State University, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets of the NBA, where he was an NBA All-Star twice, playing in the shooting guard position...
) where he could return to his natural shooting guard position alongside
John StocktonJohn Houston Stockton is a retired American professional basketball player who spent his entire career as a point guard for the Utah Jazz of the NBA...
. Hornacek was also one of the best on offense in the NBA in moving without the ball, something essential for a shooting guard. He was an instrumental part of the Jazz's drive to the NBA Finals in
1997The 1997 NBA Finals was the concluding series of the 1997 NBA Playoffs that determined the champion of the 1996–97 NBA season. The Utah Jazz of the Western Conference took on the Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Bulls holding home court advantage...
and
1998The 1998 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1997-98 National Basketball Association season. The Chicago Bulls of the Eastern Conference played against the Utah Jazz of the Western Conference, with the Jazz holding home-court advantage with the first 2 games in Salt Lake City...
, where the Jazz lost to the
Chicago BullsThe 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...
both times. He remained with the Jazz until knee problems forced his retirement in 2000. On 23 November 1994, he set a then-NBA record with eight consecutive three-pointers in a single game without a miss against the
Seattle SuperSonicsThe Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
. That same season, he also tied an NBA record 11 consecutive three-pointers without a miss, from December 30, 1994 through 11 January 1995.
One of the best
free throwIn basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
shooters in the league, once making 67 in a row (12 November 1999 – January 6 2000), one of his most well-known mannerisms was stroking the side of his face three times before every free-throw attempt. That was his way of saying hello to his three children during the game. He holds a career free throw percentage of 87.7, 12
th highest in NBA history.
Hornacek won the NBA three-point competition twice, and along with
Natalie WilliamsNatalie Williams was a professional basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
, star of the
Utah StarzzThe San Antonio Silver Stars is a team in the Women's National Basketball Association based in San Antonio, Texas. They are one of the original eight founding teams in the WNBA....
, won the All-Star 2-Ball Challenge.
Retirement and post NBA
Hornacek's #14 jersey was retired by the
Utah JazzThe Utah Jazz are a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, for whom he played from 1994 to 2000, and helped get them to the
NBA FinalsThe NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June. The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
in 1997 and 1998. Coach
Jerry SloanGerald Eugene Sloan, better known as Jerry Sloan , is a Basketball Hall of Fame coach with the Utah Jazz. He is one of professional basketball's most successful coaches, with a career regular-season win–loss record of 1137–751 , placing him fourth on the list of all-time most-winning NBA coaches...
and Jazz announcer
"Hot Rod" HundleyRodney Clark Hundley is a former professional basketball player and television broadcaster. Hundley's life has revolved around the game of basketball. His love and talent for the game led him to achieve honors in high school and most notably during his college years...
referred to Hornacek affectionately as "Horny".
He was hired for the 2007-2008 season by the Jazz to be as a special assistant coach and to help
Andrei KirilenkoAndrei Gennadevich Kirilenko is a Russian professional basketball player, playing at the small forward position for the Utah Jazz in the National Basketball Association. He is 206 cm tall and weighs 103 kg...
and others with their shooting. In May 2008 he interviewed for a coaching position with the
Chicago BullsThe 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...
, meeting with general manager
John PaxsonJohn MacBeth Paxson is a retired American basketball player. He is currently the VP of Basketball Operations of the National Basketball Association's Chicago Bulls.-High School Career:...
. He put off seeking a coaching position until his kids were older so the extensive travel wouldn't put excess pressure on the family.
Hornacek currently resides in
Paradise Valley, ArizonaParadise Valley is an affluent town in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 14,558. Despite the town's relatively small area and population compared to other municipalities in the Phoenix metropolitan area, Paradise...
with wife Stacy and their children, Ryan (20), Tyler (18) and Abigail (14). Ryan attends the
University of Notre DameThe University of Notre Dame du Lac is a private Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, USA....
, Tyler attended
Brophy College PreparatoryBrophy College Preparatory is a Jesuit high school located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school is currently limited to all-male enrollment of approximately 1,200 students. It is operated independently of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix...
, and Abigail
Xavier College PreparatoryXavier College Preparatory is a Catholic, all-female private high school in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, drawing students from 120 local schools and transfer students from around the world.-History:...
.
Stats
- Height: 6' 4"
- Weight: 190 lb
- High School: Lyons Township (La Grange
La Grange, a suburb of Chicago, is a village in Cook County, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 15,608 at the 2000 census. The name La Grange is French for "the barn".-History:...
, Cook County, IllinoisCook County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the second most populous county in the United States after Los Angeles County. According to 2008 US Census Bureau estimates, the county has 5,294,664 residents, which is larger than the populations of 29 individual U.S. states, the...
)
- Iowa State Records:
- Career assists: 665
- Career steals: 211
- Career complete games: 30
- Season assists: 219 (1985-1986; 2nd w/198 1983-1984)
- Season, assists per-game average: 6.83 (1984; 2nd w/6.63 - 1986)
- NBA Totals:
- Games: 1,077
- Minutes Played: 33,959
- Points: 15,659 (14.5 per game)
- Assists: 5,281 (4.9 per game)
- Steals: 1,536 (1.43 per game)
Transactions
- 17 June 1986: Selected by the Phoenix Suns as the 22nd pick in the 2nd round (46th pick overall) of the 1986 NBA Draft.
- 17 June 1992: Traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for Charles Barkley by the Phoenix Suns along with Andrew Lang and Tim Perry.
- 24 February 1994: Traded to the Utah Jazz for Jeff Malone
Jeffrey Nigel Malone is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at Mississippi State University, and is mostly known for his time with the Washington Bullets of the NBA, where he was an NBA All-Star twice, playing in the shooting guard position...
and a 1994 first-round draft choice, by the Philadelphia 76ers with Sean Green and a 1995 or 1996 second-round draft choice.
- 16 May 2000: Announced at the beginning of the season that it would be his last. After the Jazz lost to the 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 of the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
in game five (Portland won the series 4 games to 1) of the Western ConferenceThe Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each....
semifinals, Hornacek retired.
External links