William Clifford (Bill) Musselman (August 13, 1940 - May 5, 2000) was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat." August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... Year 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (126th in leap years). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often pronounced N-C-Double-A ) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... For information about the ABA that began in 2000 see American Basketball Association (21st century). ... The National Basketball Association of the United States and Canada, commonly known as the NBA, is the premier professional basketball league in North America. ...

Career

Born in Wooster, Ohio, Musselman first broke onto the coaching scene with the Ashland University Eagles (Ashland, Ohio). There he set a defensive record of holding opponents to an average of 33.9 points per game. His next coaching position took him to the University of Minnesota from 1971-75. In 1972, he led the Gophers to their first Big Ten Championship in 53 years with players such as Dave Winfield, Jim Brewer, Clyde Turner, Corky Taylor, and Ron Behagen. His tenure at Minnesota was tainted after an incident in 1972, when Taylor & Behagen attacked Ohio State University player Luke Witte on the court, near the end of an OSU/Minnesota basketball game. Witte was seriously injured and hospitalized. Musselman maintained that he had nothing to do with the incident but many blamed him in part for stirring his players into a frenzy before the game that night and for encouraging overly aggressive play. Wayne County courthouse in downtown Wooster Wooster (IPA ) first syllable pronounced puss--like the cat--with a w is a city in Wayne County, Ohio, United States. ... Ashland University is a 4-year college located in Ashland, Ohio. ... Ashland is a city in Ashland County, Ohio, United States. ... Washington Avenue Bridge at night The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, almost always abbreviated U of M, and sometimes referred to as The U by locals, is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system. ... David Mark Winfield (born October 3, 1951 in St. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Ohio State University (OSU) is a coeducational public research university in the U.S. state of Ohio. ... Luke Witte (born October 19, 1950 in Philadelphia) was a U.S. college and professional basketball player who is now a church minister. ...

Musselman left the college ranks to join the pro game when he was hired to coach the San Diego Sails (formerly the Conquistadors) of the American Basketball Association before the 1975-1976 season. The team only lasted for 11 games before folding. Musselman then was hired to coach the ABA's Virginia Squires that same year; he was one of five coaches employed by the Squires that season. (At the end of the season, the Squires also folded when the ABA was merged into the NBA). The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the Qs, were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. ... For information about the ABA that began in 2000 see American Basketball Association (21st century). ... Virginia Squires was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from 1970 through 1976. ...

Musselman coached the Reno Bighorns of the Western Basketball Association in 1978-79, leading the club to the only WBA title game. Reno lost to Herb Brown's Tucson Gunners, four games to three, in the 1979 championship. The league folded soon after. Herb Brown (born March 14, 1936) was an American basketball head coach. ...

He later would coach the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers for two separate stints, from 1980 to 1982 (this was during the infamous Ted Stepien era). The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ...

He then moved to the Continental Basketball Association's Tampa Bay Thrillers and Albany Patroons winning four consecutive CBA championships against coaches such as Phil Jackson and George Karl from 1984-1988. His 1987-88 Albany team posted a remarkable 48-6 record and featured a roster that included Tony Campbell, Michael Brooks, Sidney Lowe, Michael Ray Richardson, Scott Roth, Reid Gettys, Tod Murphy, Eric Fernsten, Derrick Rowland, Scott Brooks, and Lowes Moore. The Continental Basketball Association or CBA is a professional mens basketball league in the United States. ... The Tampa Bay Thrillers were a franchise in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) from 1984-1987, winning back-to-back championships in 1984 and 1985. ... The Albany Patroons are a basketball team in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). ... Phil Jackson as a coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Philip Douglas Phil Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is a National Basketball Association (NBA) coach and former player. ... George Matthew Karl (born May 12, 1951 in Penn Hills, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American former National Basketball Association (NBA) and American Basketball Association (ABA) player and current head coach of the Denver Nuggets. ... Sidney Lowe (born January 21, 1960 in Washington, D.C.) is a current college basketball head coach at North Carolina State University and former NBA basketball player and coach. ... Micheal Sugar Ray Richardson (born April 11, 1955 in Lubbock, Texas) is a former pro basketball player. ...

In 1989, he was hired to be the inaugural coach for the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves. The move to hire Musselman was a smart one, as he had put basketball back on the map in Minnesota during his time with the Gophers. He set an NBA attendance record in Minnesota that still stands today, while exceeding expectations by guiding the Wolves to a 22-60 record in their first year, and 29-53 their second. However, after the second season with the Wolves, he was fired and replaced with Jimmy Rodgers. 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. ... Jimmy Rodgers is a former basketball coach. ...

Following his stint with the Wolves, Musselman returned to the NCAA after a 25-year absence with the University of South Alabama in 1995-1996, leading the Jaguars to back-to-back NCAA tournament bids after turning the program around from a 9-18 record. Musselman's 1997 South Alabama team went 23-7 and nearly upset eventual champion University of Arizona in the opening round of the NCAA tournament. The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public, doctoral-level university located in Mobile, Alabama on Old Shell Road. ... The University of Arizona (UA or U of A) is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. ...

After two seasons with the University of South Alabama, Musselman returned to the NBA as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers. This marked the first time in his career that he served as an assistant coach. In April 2000, while working for the Blazers, he was diagnosed with amyloidosis; he died in Rochester, Minnesota one month later. The Trail Blazers used Musselman as an inspiration for their playoff run that season, which ended in the Western Conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, the eventual champions. The Portland Trail Blazers, or Blazers, are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. ... 2000 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December This is a timeline for events in April, 2000. ... Coordinates: Country United States State Minnesota County Olmsted Founded 1854 Mayor Ardell Brede Area    - City 103. ... Lakers logo 1966-1991 The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team, based in Los Angeles, California, who play in the National Basketball Association. ...

Musselman is the father of Eric Musselman, the current head coach of the Sacramento Kings. They are the first father and son to hold the title of NBA head coach. Eric P. Musselman (born November 19, 1964 in Ashland, Ohio) is the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. ... The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team which is based in Sacramento, California. ...

Washington Avenue Bridge at night The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, almost always abbreviated U of M, and sometimes referred to as The U by locals, is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday. ... Jim Dutcher has written several books and made nature film about wolfs. ... Beryl Cylde Shipley (born August 10, 1926, in Kingsport, Tennessee) is an American former basketball coach. ... The San Diego Conquistadors, nicknamed the Qs, were an American Basketball Association team based in San Diego, California. ... Mack Calvin (born July 27, 1947 in Fort Worth, Texas) is an American former basketball player. ... Virginia Squires was a basketball franchise in the former American Basketball Association that existed from 1970 through 1976. ... Stan Albeck is a former professional basketball coach. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Don Delaney was an American professional basketball coach, who served as an interim head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the early 1980s. ... Chuck Daly Charles Jerome Chuck Daly (born July 20, 1930 in St. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Tom Nissalke is a former professional basketball coach in the NBA and ABA. He has coached several teams in both leagues, and has an overall coaching record of 371-508. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. ... Jimmy Rodgers is a former basketball coach. ... // The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. ... Harold Taylor is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. ... John Albert Kundla (born July 3, 1916 in Star Junction, Pennsylvania) is a former professional and college basketball coach. ... Bill Fitch (born 1935) is an NBA coach who has been successful in making teams playoff contenders throughout his coaching career. ... Jim Dutcher has written several books and made nature film about wolfs. ... Clem Smith Haskins (born July 11, 1943 in Campbellsville, Kentucky) is a former professional basketball player who later served 13 years (1986-1999) as head coach of the University of Minnesotas mens basketball team. ... Donald Don Monson (born April 1933 in Menahga, Minnesota) is a former American college basketball coach and the father of basketball coach Dan Monson. ... Jim Molinari is an American basketball coach. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. ... Jimmy Rodgers is a former basketball coach. ... Sidney Lowe (born January 21, 1960 in Washington, D.C.) is a current college basketball head coach at North Carolina State University and former NBA basketball player and coach. ... Bill Blair is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. ... Flip Saunders Ronald Flip Saunders (born February 23, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio, United States) is head coach of the NBAs Detroit Pistons and one of the most successful coaches in the history of the Continental Basketball Association. ... Dwane Casey (born April 17, 1957 in Morganfield, Kentucky) is the current head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves, named to the position on June 17th, 2005. ... Randy Scott Wittman (born October 28, 1959 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a former professional basketball player and coach. ...

External links

• BasketballReference.com: Bill Musselman (as coach)
• Book of the Dead: Bill Musselman obituary