Ron Adams

For the American football quarterback, see Ron Adams (American football). For the Canadian football quarterback, see Ron Adam.

Ron Adams
Adams in 2015
Golden State Warriors
PositionAssistant coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1947-11-18) November 18, 1947 (age 77)
Laton, California, U.S.
Career information
High schoolLaton (Laton, California)
CollegeFresno Pacific (1965–1969)
PositionGuard
Coaching career1969–present
Career history
As coach:
1969–1972Fresno Pacific (assistant)
1972–1975Fresno Pacific
1975–1976U.S. International (assistant)
1976–1978UC Santa Barbara (assistant)
1978–1979Sunair Ostende
1980–1986Fresno State (assistant)
1986–1990Fresno State
1990–1991UNLV (assistant)
1991–1992Drake (assistant)
1992–1994San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
1994–1996Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
1998–2003Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)
2003–2008Chicago Bulls (assistant)
2008–2010Oklahoma City Thunder (assistant)
2010–2013Chicago Bulls (assistant)
2013–2014Boston Celtics (assistant)
2014–presentGolden State Warriors (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
As Head Coach:

As assistant coach:

Ronald George Adams (born November 18, 1947)[2] is an American basketball coach who is an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Early life and college career

A native of Laton, California,[3] Adams graduated from Laton High School.[4] He then played basketball at Fresno Pacific College (now Fresno Pacific University) as a guard for the Fresno Pacific Vikings and graduated in 1969 with a bachelor's degree in political science and history.[5][6] On September 19, 2011, Adams was inducted into the Fresno Pacific University Athletic Hall of Fame. Adams played basketball at Fresno Pacific (1965–69) and began his coaching career there as well (1969–74).[7]

Coaching career

After graduating from Fresno Pacific College, Adams became an assistant coach for the basketball team in 1969. Following a 7–20 season in 1971–72, Adams was promoted to be head coach. Fresno Pacific went 19–7 in 1973–74, Adams's second season as head coach.[6] While head coach at Fresno Pacific, Adams completed a master's degree in physical education at California State University, Fresno in 1974.[5]

In 1975, Adams became assistant coach at United States International University. Then from 1976 to 1978, Adams was assistant coach at UC Santa Barbara. He moved up to the professional level, as head coach for Belgian team Sunair Ostende in the 1978–79 season.[8]

From 1980 to 1986, Adams was an assistant coach at Fresno State under Boyd Grant. During this time, Fresno State won the PCAA Tournaments of 1981, 1982, and 1984.[9] Adams took over as head coach after Grant resigned following the 1985–86 season.[5][10] Adams's best season at Fresno State was a 15–14 season in 1988–89; in four seasons, Adams went 43–72.[11]

In 1990, Adams joined Jerry Tarkanian's staff at UNLV, who followed its championship season with an undefeated Big West Conference regular season record and berth in the 1991 Final Four.[8] Adams then was an assistant at Drake for one season, then reunited with Tarkanian to be an assistant under him with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs in 1992.[8][12] After two seasons, Adams joined John Lucas II's staff on the Philadelphia 76ers as assistant coach in 1994. From 1996 to 1998, Adams was a player personnel scout for the Portland Trail Blazers.[5]

In 1998, Adams became an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks under George Karl.[8] After five seasons in Milwaukee, Adams became assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls, mostly under Scott Skiles.[5] He then was assistant for the Oklahoma City Thunder under Scott Brooks from 2008 to 2010.[13] Afterwards, Adams rejoined the Bulls in 2010 as assistant coach this time under Tom Thibodeau.[14] Following three seasons with the Bulls, Adams became an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics in 2013, under first-year head coach Brad Stevens.[5]

On July 3, 2014, Adams joined the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach under first-year head coach Steve Kerr.[15] The Warriors finished the regular season 67–15 and in first place in the Western Conference. Adams won his first championship after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games of the 2015 NBA Finals.

Adams is considered one of the top defensive coaches.[16] He was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame, for coaching basketball, in 2016.[17]

The Warriors finished the regular season 2016-17 NBA season with 67 wins and first place in the Western Conference. Adams won his second championship in three years after the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in five games of the 2017 NBA Finals.

The Warriors finished the regular season 2017-18 NBA season with 58 wins and second place in the Western Conference. Adams won his second straight championship when the Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games of the 2018 NBA Finals.

The Warriors finished the regular season 2021-22 NBA season with 53 wins and third place in the Western Conference. Adams won his fourth championship when the Warriors defeated the Boston Celtics in six games of the 2022 NBA Finals.

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (NAIA District 3) (1972–1975)
1972–73 Fresno Pacific 16–13
1973–74 Fresno Pacific 19–7
1974–75 Fresno Pacific 9–16
Fresno Pacific: 44–36 (.550)
Fresno State Bulldogs (Pacific Coast Athletic Association/Big West Conference) (1986–1990)
1986–87 Fresno State 9–20 4–14 10th
1987–88 Fresno State 9–19 6–12 9th
1988–89 Fresno State 15–14 9–9 7th
1989–90 Fresno State 10–19 4–14 9th
Fresno State: 43–72 (.374) 23–49 (.319)
Total: 87–108 (.446)

References

  1. ^ "Ron Adams Named 2022 Tex Winter Assistant Coach Lifetime Impact Award Winner | the Official Website of the NBA Coaches Association". July 12, 2022.
  2. ^ "NCAA® Career Statistics". Web1.ncaa.org. March 20, 1999. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  3. ^ "Ron Adams, assistant coach". Golden State Warriors 2014–15 Media Guide. Golden State Warriors. 2014. p. 12. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  4. ^ Warszawski, Marek (January 22, 2015). "Valley native Ron Adams has NBA-best Warriors on the defensive". Fresno Bee. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Ron Adams". NBA. 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "FPU inducts five new members into Athletic Hall of Fame". Fresno Pacific University. September 19, 2011. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  7. ^ "Ron Adams Hall of Fame Speech". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c d "Ron Adams – Assistant coach" (PDF). Milwaukee Bucks 2002–03 Media Guide. Milwaukee Bucks. p. 24. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  9. ^ "Tiny Grant Coaching Record | College Basketball at". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  10. ^ Browne, Jeff (March 17, 1989). "Emotional Grant Leads Rams Against Gators". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "Ron Adams Coaching Record | College Basketball at". Sports-reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  12. ^ "Pro Basketball". Articles.latimes.com. June 3, 1992. Retrieved July 8, 2017.
  13. ^ Mayberry, Darnell (July 12, 2010). "Thunder notebook: Nick Collison on Ron Adams' departure: "It's a big loss for us"". The Oklahoman. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Bulls name assistant coaches". NBA.com. September 8, 2010.
  15. ^ "Warriors Announce Steve Kerr's Coaching Staff". Golden State Warriors. July 3, 2014.
  16. ^ Baldwin, Mike (February 3, 2009). "NBA: Ron Adams considered one of top defensive coaches". NewsOK.com. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  17. ^ "Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home". Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame | Home. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
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