Jerry Colangelo facts for kids
Colangelo in 2010
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | November 20, 1939 Chicago Heights, Illinois, U.S. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Bloom Township (Chicago Heights, Illinois) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College | Illinois (1960–1962) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| As coach: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1970, 1972–1973 | Phoenix Suns | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
As player:
As executive:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medals
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jerry Colangelo (born November 20, 1939) is an American businessman and a leader in the world of sports. He used to own several sports teams, including the Phoenix Suns (NBA basketball), the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA basketball), the Arizona Rattlers (Arena Football), and the Arizona Diamondbacks (Major League Baseball). He also helped move the Winnipeg Jets hockey team to Phoenix, where they became the Phoenix Coyotes.
In 2014, Grand Canyon University named its business school after him. From 2015 to 2018, Colangelo worked as a special advisor for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team.
In 1968, he became the youngest general manager in professional sports when he was hired by the Phoenix Suns. He ran an NBA team for a very long time, second only to Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics.
In 2005, Colangelo became the director of USA Basketball. This team represented the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Since 2009, he has been the Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He also leads the National Italian American Foundation, which promotes Italian-American culture.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jerry Colangelo was born and grew up in Chicago Heights, Illinois. His family was Italian-American and worked hard. He played basketball and baseball at Bloom Township High School.
He first went to the University of Kansas, but then moved to the University of Illinois. He played basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini. He was honored for his skills and was the team captain in his senior year. He was later added to the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. Colangelo also played baseball for two years at Illinois. In 1962, he earned a degree in physical education.
Building a Basketball Legacy
Colangelo started his sports career in 1966 with the Chicago Bulls basketball team. He worked in marketing, scouting, and as an assistant to the team president. In 1968, he became the first general manager of the new team, the Phoenix Suns. He was the youngest general manager in professional sports at that time.
His start with the Suns was a bit tough. In 1969, he lost a coin flip to the Milwaukee Bucks for the chance to draft Lew Alcindor (who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The Suns played well in the 1970s and reached the 1976 NBA Finals. However, they lost to the Boston Celtics. Colangelo also coached the Suns twice during that decade.
In the 1980s, the Suns faced some challenges. Some players were involved in a scandal, and a young player named Nick Vanos died in a plane crash. From 1985 to 1988, the Suns did not make the playoffs. Colangelo then gathered investors to buy the Suns in 1987. He also made a key trade for Kevin Johnson in 1987.
The Suns improved greatly in the 1988–89 season. They almost doubled their wins and started a streak of 13 straight playoff appearances. In 1989, Colangelo helped get the money to build America West Arena (now called PHX Arena). In 1992, he traded for Charles Barkley, who was a superstar. This trade helped the Suns reach the NBA Finals again in 1993, but they lost to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
During his time with the Suns, Colangelo won the NBA Executive of the Year award four times. This is the most times an executive has won it for one team in the NBA. He later passed the Suns' presidency to his son, Bryan. Bryan also won two NBA Executive of the Year awards.
In December 2015, Jerry Colangelo returned to the NBA to work for the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the chairman of basketball operations and a special advisor. In April 2016, his son Bryan became the general manager for the 76ers. This brought the Colangelos back together for the first time since 2004. Jerry stepped down as chairman but stayed as a special advisor. He left the 76ers by the end of 2018.
Other Sports Ventures
Colangelo has been involved with many professional sports teams in Arizona.
Bringing Baseball to Arizona
Colangelo wanted to bring a Major League Baseball team to Arizona. In 1994, he put together a group of investors to buy a team. In 1995, his group was given an expansion team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks started playing in 1998. Colangelo hired Joe Garagiola, Jr. as general manager and Buck Showalter as manager. These hires helped the team succeed quickly. They signed star pitcher Randy Johnson in 1999 and traded for Curt Schilling in 2000. These two pitchers were co-MVPs when the Diamondbacks won the 2001 World Series. They beat the New York Yankees in seven games. As of 2024, this is the only major men's professional sports championship for the Phoenix area.
The Diamondbacks had spent a lot of money to build the 2001 championship team. Colangelo left the team in 2004 and sold his share.
Women's Basketball
In 1997, Colangelo's team in the Women's National Basketball Association, the Phoenix Mercury, began playing. The next year, the Mercury reached the WNBA Finals but lost.
Arena Football Success
In 1992, Colangelo started the Arena Football League's Arizona Rattlers. He owned them until 2005. Under his leadership, the Rattlers won Arena Bowl championships in 1994 and 1997. They were one of the most successful teams in the league.
Bringing Hockey to Arizona
Colangelo also helped bring the National Hockey League (NHL) to Arizona. He convinced the Winnipeg Jets team to move to Phoenix in 1996. They became the Phoenix Coyotes. This made Phoenix one of the few cities with teams in all four major North American professional sports leagues.
Leaving Sports Ownership
In April 2004, Colangelo sold the Suns, Mercury, and Rattlers to an investment group led by Robert Sarver. In August 2004, he also sold his main share in the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Other Interests and Business Ventures
In 2003, Jerry Colangelo was part of a group planning to develop land in Buckeye, Arizona. They planned a large housing development called Douglas Ranch and a smaller one called Trillium.
Colangelo's investment group, JDM Partners, bought the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona in 2008.
In 2011, Colangelo helped create Grand Canyon University's School of Sports Business. He served as an advisor. In 2014, the university's entire college of business was renamed the Colangelo College of Business.
Awards and Honors
Colangelo has been named the NBA's Executive of the Year four times (1976, 1981, 1989, 1993). A street in his hometown of Chicago Heights, Illinois, is named after him.
In 1994, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 2002, he received an honorary degree from Arizona State University.
On April 4, 2004, Colangelo was chosen for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. On November 4, 2007, he was added to the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor.
He is also a Hall of Fame member and leader for the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame is located in the Colangelo Building in Little Italy, Chicago.
In 2016, Colangelo received the John D. Driggs Outstanding Career Achievement and Community Service Award from Phoenix Rotary 100. In 2019, he was given the Order of Lincoln award, the highest honor from the State of Illinois.
Personal Life
Colangelo is a Christian. He has spoken about his faith, saying it is the most important thing in his life. He believes God has a plan for him and has blessed him with opportunities.
Colangelo is married to Joan, whom he met on a blind date in college. They have four children: Kathy Holcombe, Kristen Young, Mandie Colangelo, and Bryan Colangelo. His son Bryan also worked with him in basketball, including with the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers.
Images for kids
-
Colangelo in 2010
-
Colangelo at the 2014 World Basketball Festival
-
Colangelo at a fundraiser hosted by Tony La Russa in Phoenix, Arizona
See also
In Spanish: Jerry Colangelo para niños
