Bill Berry (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1942 (age 82–83) Winnemucca, Nevada, U.S. |
| High school | Humboldt County (Winnemucca, Nevada) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Career information | |
| College | Michigan State (1961–1964) |
| NBA Draft | 1964 / Undrafted |
| Coaching career | 1966–2007 |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 1966–1969 | Highlands HS |
| 1970–1972 | Cosumnes River JC |
| 1972–1977 | California (assistant) |
| 1977–1979 | Michigan State (assistant) |
| 1979–1989 | San Jose State |
| 1989–1991 | Sacramento Kings (scout/assistant) |
| 1991–1999 | Houston Rockets (scout/assistant) |
| 1999–2003 | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| 2001 | Chicago Bulls (interim) |
| 2006–2007 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
William "Bill" Edward Berry (born in 1942) is a retired American basketball coach. He had a long career playing and coaching basketball, including winning two NBA championships as an assistant coach.
Contents
Bill Berry's Early Life and College Basketball
Bill Berry was born in Winnemucca, Nevada. He finished high school at Humboldt County High School in 1960. After high school, he went to Michigan State University.
Playing for Michigan State
From 1961 to 1964, Berry played basketball for the Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team. His coach was Forddy Anderson. During the 1962–63 season, Berry was the best rebounder on his team. He grabbed 184 rebounds in total, averaging 9.2 rebounds per game.
Earning His Degrees
Bill Berry earned two degrees from Michigan State. He received his bachelor's degree in 1965. Later, in 1969, he earned his master's degree. Both of his degrees were in physical education.
Bill Berry's Coaching Journey
Bill Berry started his coaching career in 1966. He became the head varsity basketball coach at Highlands High School in North Highlands, California. He coached there until 1969.
Coaching at Colleges
After getting his master's degree, Berry coached at Cosumnes River Junior College from 1970 to 1972. Then, he became an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level for the California team. He stayed there until 1977.
Berry then went back to his old college, Michigan State, as an assistant coach. He worked under coach Jud Heathcote. He was part of the coaching team that won the 1979 NCAA championship. This team included the famous player Magic Johnson.
Leading San Jose State
From 1979 to 1989, Bill Berry was the head men's basketball coach at San Jose State. During his time there, his team had a record of 142 wins and 144 losses. This was the second-highest number of wins for a coach at San Jose State at that time.
In the 1979–80 season, San Jose State had a 17–12 record. They won the 1980 PCAA tournament. This win helped them get into the 1980 NCAA tournament. The next season, 1980–81, they had a great 21–9 record. They also qualified for the 1981 National Invitation Tournament. San Jose State had three good seasons in a row, with more wins than losses, from 1984 to 1987.
Challenges at San Jose State
The 1988–89 season was tough for the Spartans, as they finished with only 5 wins and 23 losses. In January 1989, some players on the team had concerns about Berry's coaching style. They refused to play or practice under him. Berry then put together a new team using walk-on athletes. This included a star football player named Johnny Johnson. San Jose State decided to let Berry go after that season, on March 24, 1989.
Coaching in the NBA
After leaving San Jose State, Berry moved to the NBA. He started as a scout and assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings in 1989.
Winning Championships with Houston
In 1991, he joined the Houston Rockets as a scout. In February 1992, he became an assistant coach under Rudy Tomjanovich. Berry was an important part of the Rockets' coaching staff when they won two NBA championships in a row, in 1994 and 1995.
Later NBA Roles
From 1999 to 2003, Berry worked as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He briefly became the interim head coach for two games in December 2001 after the previous coach resigned. Both games were losses. Bill Cartwright then took over as the permanent head coach. On September 7, 2006, the Washington Wizards announced that Bill Berry would join their team as an assistant coach for head coach Eddie Jordan.
Bill Berry's Family Life
Bill Berry has been married to Clarice "Reese" Berry since 1963. They have two children. The Berry family lived in Morgan Hill, California, when Bill Berry was coaching at San Jose State. Their son, Ricky Berry (born in 1964), also played college basketball at San Jose State under his father. Ricky later played in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings before he tragically passed away in 1989.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Berry (entrenador de baloncesto) para niños
