About Tom Thibodeau
Thomas Joseph Thibodeau Jr. ( THIB-ə-doh; born January 17, 1958), nicknamed "Thibs" ( TIBZ), is an American basketball coach who was most recently the head coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He served as an assistant coach for the United States men's national team from 2013 to 2016, and helped them win a gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. As a defensive coach, he helped the Houston Rockets rank among the top 5 in the league in scoring defense and field goal percentage defense from 2004 to 2007, and he has helped his team finish in the league's top 10 in team defense 15 times. He was part of the 1999 NBA Finals as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks before joining the Boston Celtics as a defensive coach. With the Celtics, he won the 2008 NBA Finals as well as helping guide them back to the 2010 NBA Finals. In 2010, he became head coach of the Chicago Bulls. He was named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Bulls to a 62-win season. He was head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016 to 2019, before becoming the Knicks' head coach. He won the Coach of the Year award again in 2021 after leading the Knicks to their first playoff berth in eight seasons. In 2025, he led the Knicks to their first conference finals appearance in 25 years, and was fired at the end of the season. He has coached in 214 playoff games as an assistant coach, associate head coach, and head coach. Thibodeau is renowned as a defensive specialist with significant regular season success, though he has also drawn criticism for playing his starters heavy minutes and his perceived stubbornness. In 1980, Thibodeau helped Salem State win the league championship and the school's first NCAA Tournament bid.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.