Marc Iavaroni
Encyclopedia
Marcus John Iavaroni (born September 15, 1956, in Jamaica, New York) is a retired American professional basketball
player, current assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers
, and former head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies
.
Iavaroni, who joined the NBA at age 26, was an important role player on the successful Philadelphia 76ers
teams in the early and middle 80s. He also played for the San Antonio Spurs
and Utah Jazz
, in a career which included a starting role as a rookie on the 76ers' 1983 NBA Championship team.
Iavaroni also played professionally in Brescia
, Forlì
and Málaga
before retiring in 1992, playing a total of six seasons in Italy and Spain: four after his college career and two following his NBA career.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia
. Following his playing career, he was also an assistant coach for two seasons at Bowling Green State University
from 1992 to 1994.
The first NBA coaching experience for Iavaroni came in 1997, when he was hired as a Cleveland Cavaliers
assistant, working mainly with forwards. In 1999, he moved to the front office of the Miami Heat
as director of player development. Since 2002, he served as an assistant to Mike D'Antoni
at the Phoenix Suns
.
On May 30, 2007, Iavaroni was named the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies
. However, on January 22, 2009, he was fired by the Grizzlies after an 11–30 start to the 2008–09 season
.
On June 5, 2009, the Toronto Raptors
announced that Iavaroni would become an assistant coach to Jay Triano
.
On July 17, 2010, the Los Angeles Clippers
announced that Iavaroni would become an assistant coach to newly-hired Vinny Del Negro
.
Iavaroni was a star player at Plainview, New York
's John F. Kennedy High School in the 1970s and a teammate of Seth Greenberg
, who is currently the Head Coach of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team.
Iavaroni and his wife Caroline have three sons: Kenton, McCray and Jackson.
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|82||22||60||.268|| align="center" |5th in Southwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
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|39||13||26||.333|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
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Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, current assistant coach of 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...
, and former head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
.
Iavaroni, who joined the NBA at age 26, was an important role player on the successful 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...
teams in the early and middle 80s. He also played for the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
and Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, in a career which included a starting role as a rookie on the 76ers' 1983 NBA Championship team.
Iavaroni also played professionally in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
and Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
before retiring in 1992, playing a total of six seasons in Italy and Spain: four after his college career and two following his NBA career.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
. Following his playing career, he was also an assistant coach for two seasons at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
from 1992 to 1994.
The first NBA coaching experience for Iavaroni came in 1997, when he was hired as a 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...
assistant, working mainly with forwards. In 1999, he moved to the front office of the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
as director of player development. Since 2002, he served as an assistant to Mike D'Antoni
Mike D'Antoni
Michael Andrew "Mike" D'Antoni is an Italian-American former basketball player and is currently the head coach of the NBA's New York Knicks. While head coach of the Phoenix Suns, he won NBA Coach of the Year honors for the 2004–05 NBA season after the Suns posted 33 more wins than the previous...
at the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The 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 and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
.
On May 30, 2007, Iavaroni was named the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
. However, on January 22, 2009, he was fired by the Grizzlies after an 11–30 start to the 2008–09 season
2008–09 NBA season
The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association . The 1,230-game regular season began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009...
.
On June 5, 2009, the Toronto Raptors
Toronto Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's re-expansion...
announced that Iavaroni would become an assistant coach to Jay Triano
Jay Triano
Jay Triano is a retired Canadian professional basketball player and former head coach of the NBA's Toronto Raptors. Triano gained recognition during his tenure as coach of the Canadian men's national team. He is also a former national team player, who competed in two Olympics, starting in 1984...
.
On July 17, 2010, 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...
announced that Iavaroni would become an assistant coach to newly-hired 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:...
.
Iavaroni was a star player at Plainview, New York
Plainview, New York
Plainview is a hamlet located on Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, USA. The population of the CDP as of 2010 was 26,217. The Plainview post office has the ZIP code 11803....
's John F. Kennedy High School in the 1970s and a teammate of Seth Greenberg
Seth Greenberg
Seth Greenberg is an American college basketball coach, and the current head coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's basketball team. Greenberg just finished his seventh season as head coach of the Hokies...
, who is currently the Head Coach of the Virginia Tech men's basketball team.
Iavaroni and his wife Caroline have three sons: Kenton, McCray and Jackson.
Coaching record
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Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
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|82||22||60||.268|| align="center" |5th in Southwest||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |Missed Playoffs
|-
| align="left" |MEM
| align="left" |
|39||13||26||.333|| align="center" |(fired)||—||—||—||—
| align="center" |—
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |Career
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