Mike Woodson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Mike Woodson

Woodson coaching Indiana in 2022
Indiana Hoosiers
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1958-03-24) March 24, 1958 (age 67) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
High school	Broad Ripple (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
College	Indiana (1976–1980)
NBA Draft	1980 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12th overall
Selected by the New York Knicks
Pro career	1980–1991
Coaching career	1996–present
League	Big Ten Conference
Career history
As player:
1980–1981	New York Knicks
1982	New Jersey Nets
1982–1986	Kansas City / Sacramento Kings
1986–1988	Los Angeles Clippers
1988–1990	Houston Rockets
1990–1991	Cleveland Cavaliers
As coach:
1996–1999	Milwaukee Bucks (assistant)
1999–2001	Cleveland Cavaliers (assistant)
2001–2003	Philadelphia 76ers (assistant)
2003–2004	Detroit Pistons (assistant)
2004–2010	Atlanta Hawks
2011–2012	New York Knicks (assistant)
2012–2014	New York Knicks
2014–2018	Los Angeles Clippers (assistant)
2020–2021	New York Knicks (assistant)
2021–present	Indiana
Career highlights and awards
As player: Second-team All-American – NABC (1980) Fourth-team All-American – NABC (1979) As assistant coach: NBA champion (2004)
Career NBA statistics
Points	10,981 (14.0 ppg)
Rebounds	1,838 (2.3 rpg)
Assists	1,822 (2.3 apg)
Medals Representing  United States Men's basketball Pan American Games Gold 1979 San Juan Team competition

Michael Dean Woodson (born March 24, 1958) is an American basketball coach and former professional player. He is currently the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team.

Woodson played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers from 1976 to 1980. He was coached by the famous Bob Knight. As a junior, he helped his team win the 1979 NIT Tournament. That same summer, Woodson was the captain of the United States basketball team. They won a gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games. In his final year, Woodson and Isiah Thomas led the Hoosiers to a conference title. They also made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament. Woodson was named the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1980. He ranks fifth in total points for Hoosier basketball players.

After college, Woodson played 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1980. He also played for the New Jersey Nets, Kansas City/Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Later, Woodson became a coach for several NBA teams. He was an assistant coach for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. He won an NBA Championship as an assistant coach with the Detroit Pistons in the 2003–04 season. Woodson then became a head coach for the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Mike Woodson was born in 1958 in Indianapolis. He was one of 12 children. His family faced financial challenges. His parents also had health issues. When Mike was 13, his father passed away. His father had worked very hard to support the family. After this, Mike lived with his oldest sister for a year. He then moved back with his mom to help her. He gave her half of his paychecks.

Growing up in Indiana, basketball was a huge part of life. Mike said that almost every yard had a basketball hoop. There were also many parks and recreation centers. This allowed him to practice a lot. He also got to play with talented players. Some of these players later became professionals. Playing in Indiana taught him important basketball skills. These included passing, shooting, and dribbling. He learned to play without the ball, which is part of the "motion offense."

College Basketball Career

Woodson chose to play college basketball for Bob Knight at Indiana University. He wanted to play where he could get a great education. He also wanted his family to be able to watch him play. He believed he was playing for the best coach in the country.

In his first year (1976–77), the Hoosiers were coming off a perfect season. In his second year (1977–78), the Hoosiers finished second in their conference. They made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

During his junior year (1978–79), Woodson was the team captain. He averaged 21 points per game. In the final game of that season, he scored a career-high 48 points. After this season, Woodson was chosen to play for the United States team. This team was coached by Bob Knight. They played in the 1979 Pan American Games. Woodson was the captain and led the team to a gold medal. They won all nine of their games.

In his senior year (1979–80), Woodson and Isiah Thomas led the Hoosiers. The team started strong, even beating the Soviet Union team. However, Woodson had to miss seven weeks due to back surgery. Despite this injury, he returned and helped the team win six games in a row. They finished first in the Big Ten Conference. The team reached the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

Woodson finished his college career with 2,061 total points. This ranks him fifth all-time for Indiana. Even with his injury, he was named the Big Ten's Most Valuable Player. He also received the Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball award.

NBA Playing Career

The New York Knicks picked Mike Woodson 12th in the 1980 NBA draft. He played in the NBA from 1980 to 1991. He averaged 14.0 points per game over 786 games. After playing for the Knicks, he joined the New Jersey Nets. He was then traded to the Kansas City/Sacramento Kings.

With the Kings, Woodson was sometimes a starter and sometimes a "sixth man." He averaged a career-high 18.2 points per game in 1982–83. In August 1986, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He then played for the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers. Throughout his NBA career, he learned from many great coaches.

NBA Coaching Career

Woodson as Knicks head coach in 2013

Assistant Coaching Roles

Before becoming a head coach, Woodson was an assistant coach. He worked for the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers. He also worked with Larry Brown for the Detroit Pistons. With the Pistons in the 2003–04 season, Woodson helped the team win an NBA Championship. He was known for helping players improve their defense.

After being a head coach, Woodson returned to assistant coaching. He joined the Los Angeles Clippers in 2014. He stayed there for four years. In 2020, he became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks again. He left this role to become the head coach for the Indiana Hoosiers.

Atlanta Hawks Head Coach (2004–2010)

In the 2004–05 season, Woodson became the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks. His first season was tough, with the team winning only 13 games. However, the Hawks improved each year under his leadership.

In the 2007–08 season, the Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1999. They lost in the first round to the Boston Celtics. This was the first of three straight playoff appearances for the Hawks. In the 2008–09 season, they won 47 games. They beat the Miami Heat in the first round before losing in the semifinals. In the 2009–10 season, the Hawks won 53 games. They beat Milwaukee in the first round but lost to Orlando in the second. After this season, his contract ended, and he left the team.

Woodson's 206 wins with the Hawks rank fourth in the team's history. He helped develop many All-Star players during his time there.

New York Knicks Head Coach (2011–2014)

On August 29, 2011, Mike Woodson became an assistant coach for the New York Knicks. On March 14, 2012, he became the interim head coach. In his first game, the Knicks won by a large margin. Under Woodson, the Knicks finished strong. They made the playoffs for the second year in a row. This was the first time they had done that in over a decade. Woodson was then officially named the full-time head coach.

Woodson's 2012–13 Knicks started the season with a great record. They won the Atlantic Division title. This was their first division title since the 1993–94 season. The team finished with 54 wins and 28 losses. They also set an NBA record for three-pointers in a season. The Knicks won their first playoff series since 2000. However, they were eliminated in the second round.

The 2013–14 Knicks struggled. They missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. On April 21, 2014, Woodson was fired from his position. He finished his time as Knicks coach with 109 wins and 79 losses. He coached and mentored many Knicks All-Stars.

Indiana Hoosiers Coaching Career

On March 28, 2021, Mike Woodson was hired as the head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team. His contract was for six years.

In his first year (2021–22), Woodson led the team to a 21–14 record. The Hoosiers broke long losing streaks against Purdue and Michigan. They also reached the semifinals of the 2022 Big Ten men's basketball tournament. Indiana made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016. They won their first game before losing in the next round. In Woodson's second season, Indiana qualified for the NCAA Tournament again. This was the first time Indiana had back-to-back tournament appearances since 2015 and 2016.

During the 2022–23 season, the Hoosiers finished with a 23–12 record. They were ranked in the top 25 polls. They also finished tied for second in the Big Ten. The team led the Big Ten in field goal percentage. They also had the best winning percentage against ranked teams. Woodson helped develop future NBA players like Trayce Jackson-Davis and Jalen Hood-Schifino.

Coaching Style

Woodson learned from many famous coaches. These include Bob Knight and Larry Brown. His coaching style reflects what he learned from them. He focuses on hard work, being responsible, and teamwork.

Woodson uses a "four-out one-in" offense. This style uses athletic players in a free-flowing system. He also understands the importance of three-pointers in modern basketball. He uses data and analytics to help make decisions about players.

Larry Brown, who coached with Woodson, said that Mike is a "really good, decent guy." He added that Woodson "respects the game and is loyal as hell." He also loves to coach and teach his players.

Personal Life

Mike Woodson is married to Terri. They have two daughters, Alexis and Mariah. Both of their daughters played college volleyball. Woodson prefers to talk to people directly instead of using email or text messages.

Coaching Records

College Coaching Record

NBA Coaching Record

See also

In Spanish: Mike Woodson para niños