View source for Tom Thibodeau

{{Short description|American basketball coach (born 1958)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Tom Thibodeau
| image = Tom Thibodeau cropped.jpg
| caption = Thibodeau as head coach of the [[Chicago Bulls]] in 2011
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1958|1|17}}
| birth_place = [[New Britain, Connecticut]], U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| league = [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
| team = 
| position = 
| high_school = {{nowrap|[[New Britain High School|New Britain]] (New Britain, Connecticut)}}
| college = [[Salem State University|Salem State]] (1977–1981)
| coach_start = 1981
| cyears1 = 1981–1984
| cteam1 = [[Salem State University|Salem State]] (assistant)
| cyears2 = 1984–1985
| cteam2 = [[Salem State University|Salem State]]
| cyears3 = 1985–1989
| cteam3 = [[Harvard Crimson men's basketball|Harvard]] (assistant)
| cyears4 = {{nbay|1989|start}}–{{nbay|1990|end}}
| cteam4 = [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] (assistant)
| cyears5 = {{nbay|1992|start}}–{{nbay|1993|end}}
| cteam5 = [[San Antonio Spurs]] (assistant)
| cyears6 = {{nbay|1994|start}}–{{nbay|1995|end}}
| cteam6 = [[Philadelphia 76ers]] (assistant)
| cyears7 = {{nbay|1996|start}}–{{nbay|2002|end}}
| cteam7 = [[New York Knicks]] (assistant)
| cyears8 = {{nbay|2003|start}}–{{nbay|2006|end}}
| cteam8 = [[Houston Rockets]] (assistant)
| cyears9 = {{nbay|2007|start}}–{{nbay|2009|end}}
| cteam9 = [[Boston Celtics]] (associate HC)
| cyears10 = {{nbay|2010|start}}–{{nbay|2014|end}}
| cteam10 = [[Chicago Bulls]]
| cyears11 = {{nbay|2016|start}}–{{nbay|2018|end}}
| cteam11 = [[Minnesota Timberwolves]]
| cyears12 = {{nbay|2020|start}}–{{nbay|2024|end}}
| cteam12 = [[New York Knicks]]
| highlights = '''As head coach:'''
* 2× [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] ({{nbay|2010|end}}, {{nbay|2020|end}})
* [[List of NBA All-Star Game head coaches|NBA All-Star Game head coach]] ({{nasg|2012}})
'''As assistant coach:'''
* [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|2008}})
}}
'''Thomas Joseph Thibodeau Jr.''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|θ|ɪ|b|ə|d|oʊ}} {{respell|THIB|ə|doh}};<ref>[[Eric Zorn]], [http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news_columnists_ezorn/2011/03/what-the-h-how-tibs-says-his-last-name.html What the H? How 'Thibs' says his last name], ''Chicago Tribune'', March 21, 2011.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?pid=168751838|title=Thomas THIBODEAU Obituary – New Britain, CT – Hartford Courant|work=Hartford Courant|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> born January 17, 1958), nicknamed "'''Thibs'''" ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|ɪ|b|z}} {{respell|TIBZ}}), is an American [[basketball]] coach who was most recently the head coach for the [[New York Knicks]] of the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA), from 2020 until his firing in 2025. He served as an assistant coach for the [[United States men's national basketball team|United States men's national team]] from 2013 to 2016, and helped them win a gold medal at the [[2016 Olympic Games]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://www.usab.com:443/basketball/staff/t/tom-thibodeau.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217012412/http://www.usab.com/basketball/staff/t/tom-thibodeau.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2015|title=Tom Thibodeau|website=www.usab.com}}</ref>

As a [[Defense (sports)|defensive]] coach, he helped the [[Houston Rockets]] rank among the top 5 in the league in scoring defense and [[Field goal (basketball)|field goal]] percentage defense from [[2003–04 NBA season|2004]] to [[2006–07 NBA season|2007]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Tom Thibodeau – Associate Head Coach |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/roster/coaches/tom-thibodeau.html |website=NBA.com |access-date=January 18, 2021}}</ref> and he has helped his team finish in the league's top 10 in team defense 15 times.<ref name="Christopher L. Gasper 2008">Christopher L. Gasper, [http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/06/04/it_all_stops_with_mastermind_thibodeau/ It all stops with mastermind Thibodeau], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', June 4, 2008.</ref> 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.

==Early life==
Thibodeau was born on January 17, 1958, in [[New Britain, Connecticut]]. He attended [[New Britain High School]], where he excelled in basketball.

==College career==
Thibodeau played basketball at [[Salem State University|Salem State College]], serving as captain during the 1980–81 season. During his time with the Vikings, the six-foot-two-inch Thibodeau helped Salem State reach consecutive Division III national tournaments (1980, 1981). In 1980, Thibodeau helped Salem State win the league championship and the school's first NCAA Tournament bid.

==Coaching career==

===Salem State (1981–1985)===
Upon graduating, he became an assistant coach at the school in 1981. In 1984, at age 25, he became head coach at Salem State after serving three years as an assistant.

===Harvard (1985–1989)===
One season later he became an assistant coach at [[Harvard Crimson men's basketball|Harvard University]], where he spent the next four seasons.

While coaching in college, Thibodeau attended coaching clinics and visited the practices of many of the top coaches in the U.S., including Hall of Fame coaches [[Bobby Knight]], [[Rick Pitino]], [[Hubie Brown]], [[Gary Williams]], [[Morgan Wootten]], and [[Jim Calhoun]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wickedlocal.com/article/20101112/News/311129342|title=Coach Thibodeau journeys from Salem State to the NBA|author=Brion OConnor/Special to the Gazette|work=Wicked Local|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> In 1987, Thibodeau befriended [[Bill Musselman]], a former head coach in the NBA, ABA and NCAA who was coaching the [[Albany Patroons]] of the [[Continental Basketball Association]]. According to the ''New York Times'', "the Patroons’ practices, the attention to detail, the efficiency, the sheer number of offensive sets, fed into Thibodeau's addiction."<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/sports/basketball/bulls-and-basketball-an-obsession-for-thibodeau.html|title=The Man Is a Coach. Period.|date=29 April 2012|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref>

===Minnesota Timberwolves (1989–1991)===
[[File:Jeff Van Gundy.jpg|upright|thumb|Thibodeau (left) as part of the Houston Rockets coaching staff with then head coach [[Jeff Van Gundy]]]]
After four years at Harvard, he entered the [[National Basketball Association]] (NBA) in 1989, as an assistant coach with an [[Expansion of the National Basketball Association|expansion team]], the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]], who had hired [[Bill Musselman]] as the team's first head coach. Prior to the [[1991–92 NBA season|1991–92 season]], he joined the [[Seattle SuperSonics]] as an advance scout.

===San Antonio Spurs (1992–1994)===
Thibodeau moved to the [[San Antonio Spurs]] the [[1992–93 NBA season|following season]], where he worked as an assistant coach to [[Jerry Tarkanian]], [[Rex Hughes]] and [[John Lucas II|John Lucas]] for two seasons.

===Philadelphia 76ers (1994–1996)===
After the [[1993–94 NBA season|1993–94 season]], he left the Spurs along with Lucas to become an assistant under Lucas with the [[Philadelphia 76ers]].

===New York Knicks (1996–2003)===
After the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995–96 season]], he again left simultaneously with Lucas, this time joining the [[New York Knicks]] as an assistant to head coach [[Jeff Van Gundy]], who later said that Thibodeau was the best coach on the staff, even better than Van Gundy.<ref name="nytimes.com" />

During his tenure with the Knicks, Thibodeau helped the team set a then-NBA record by holding 33 consecutive opponents under 100 points in the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000–01 season]]. As part of the Knicks coaching staff, he also helped Van Gundy coach the [[Eastern Conference (NBA)|Eastern Conference]] All-Stars in the [[2000 NBA All-Star Game|2000 All-Star Game]]. He spent seven years with the Knicks.

===Houston Rockets (2003–2007)===
Thibodeau joined the [[Houston Rockets]] prior to the [[2003–04 NBA season|2003–04 season]], where again he was an assistant to head coach Van Gundy, who has described Thibodeau as "brilliant".<ref name="nytimes.com" />

===Boston Celtics (2007–2010)===
[[File:Rivers (center) sits on the sidelines with assistant coaches Tom Thibodeau (right) and Armond Hill (left) in Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.jpg|thumb|left|Thibodeau (right) as part of the Boston Celtics coaching staff]]
On August 30, 2007, Thibodeau was named associate head coach of the [[Boston Celtics]],<ref>[http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press083007-thibodeau.html Celtics Add Thibodeau to Coaching Staff], ''[[Boston Celtics|Celtics]].com'', August 30, 2007.</ref><ref>[https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2998331 New England native Thibodeau named Celtics assistant], ''[[Associated Press]]'', August 30, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2007/08/celtics_add_coa.html Celtics add coach], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', August 30, 2007.</ref> who hoped his hiring would bolster their defense.<ref>Peter May, [http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2007/11/01/thibodeau_is_celtics_minister_of_defense/ Thibodeau is Celtics' minister of defense], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', November 1, 2007.</ref> Eventually, he helped the Celtics become the best defensive team in the league.<ref>Mark Murphy, [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1088192&format=&page=2&listingType=celt#articleFull Celtics regular season report card], ''[[Boston Herald]]'', April 19, 2008.</ref> On November 4, 2007, Thibodeau took over head coaching duties against the [[Toronto Raptors]] in place of [[Doc Rivers]], who was unable to coach due to the death of his father earlier that day.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071106020130/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271104028 Allen's last-second 3 caps milestone day as C's nip Raps], ''[[Associated Press]]'', November 4, 2007.</ref>

During the [[2008 NBA Playoffs|2008 playoffs]], Thibodeau was rumored to be a candidate for the vacant head coaching job with the [[New York Knicks]], for whom he had worked as an assistant coach for seven years, as well as the [[Chicago Bulls]],<ref>Alan Hahn, [https://web.archive.org/web/20230412030955/http://toa.hiasys.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1089086&srvc=home&position=recent Knicks interested in Celtics assistant coach], ''[[Boston Herald]]'', April 23, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1089322 Thibodeau on radar – Assistant may be in line for top job], ''[[Boston Herald]]'', April 24, 2008.</ref> but he was not hired by either.

Thibodeau led the [[Boston Celtics|Celtics]] to the best rating in several defensive categories in [[2007–08 NBA season|2007–08]],<ref name="Christopher L. Gasper 2008" /> and was a key factor in containing [[Kobe Bryant]] during the [[2008 NBA Finals|2008 Finals]], which the Celtics won, earning Thibodeau his first NBA Championship.<ref>Frank Isola, [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2008/06/07/2008-06-07_bostons_tom_thibodeau_helps_stymie_kobe_.html Boston's Tom Thibodeau helps stymie Kobe Bryant, Lakers], ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]'', June 7, 2008.</ref>

===Chicago Bulls (2010–2015)===
On June 2, 2010, Thibodeau interviewed with officials from the [[Chicago Bulls]] for their vacant head coach position.<ref>K.C. Johnson, [http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/06/bulls-return-from-la-as-thibodeau-ponders-options.html Bulls heading home after Thibodeau interview], ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', June 3, 2010.</ref> On June 23, he was confirmed as the Bulls' head coach. Thibodeau was named the [[NBA Coach of the Year]] on May 1, 2011, after tying the record for most wins by a rookie head coach with 62. He also led the Bulls to their first 50-win season and first division title since the [[Michael Jordan]] era.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/bulls/news/thibodeau_hired_100623.html|title=Thibodeau named 18th head coach in franchise history|date=June 23, 2010|work=NBA.com|publisher=Turner Sports Interactive, Inc|access-date=June 23, 2010}}</ref> The Bulls lost the [[2011 NBA Playoffs|Eastern Conference finals]] to the [[Miami Heat]].

On February 14, 2012, Thibodeau clinched the position of Eastern Conference coach for the [[2012 NBA All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] in Orlando. At the time, the Bulls were first in the Eastern Conference.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/chicagos-thibodeau-earns-spot-eastern-conference-head-coach-2012-nba-all-star-game.html|title=Chicago’s Thibodeau earns spot as Eastern Conference head coach for the 2012 NBA All-Star Game|date=15 February 2012|access-date=1 December 2022|work=Chicago Bulls|publisher=NBA}}</ref>

With a win over the [[Orlando Magic]] on March 19, 2012, Thibodeau became the fastest coach in NBA history to earn 100 career victories. He accomplished this in 130 games, one game fewer than the record set previously by [[Avery Johnson]] in 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tom Thibodeau fastest to 100 wins as Bulls unload on Magic |date=March 19, 2012 |work=ESPN.com |url=http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320319019|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717154216/http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=320319019|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|access-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref> Thibodeau and the Bulls were the East's top seed entering the [[2012 NBA Playoffs|playoffs]] and also had the league's best regular-season record and home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/Chicago-Bulls-clinch-top-overall-playoff-seed-beat-Cleveland-Cavaliers-042612|title=Bulls bash Cavs, clinch top seed|publisher=Fox Sports.com|date=April 27, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref>

In Game 1 of the Bulls' first-round series against the [[Philadelphia 76ers]], [[point guard]] [[Derrick Rose]] tore his [[Anterior cruciate ligament|ACL]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-0429-bulls-76ers-chicago--20120429,0,1444935.story|title=One horrific play, and Rose's season over|first=K.C.|last=Johnson|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=April 28, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref> Commenting on Thibodeau's decision to leave Rose in the game, Bulls [[general manager (basketball)|general manager]] [[Gar Forman]] stated, "There is absolutely no issue there. It's a playoff game. They had cut a lead down (from 20) to 12. We're going to have our guys on the floor making sure we win the game. Tom is a terrific coach who does a lot of things well. One of the best things he does is pace our team."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/ct-spt-0430-bulls-bits--20120430,0,7595115.story|title=Bulls GM Forman stands by Thibodeau|first=K.C.|last=Johnson|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=April 29, 2012|access-date=May 2, 2012}}</ref>

Thibodeau finished second to [[Gregg Popovich]] of the San Antonio Spurs in 2012 NBA Coach of the Year voting. The Bulls' season was cut short after a 4–2 defeat by the 76ers.<ref>[https://www.tsn.ca/nba/story/?id=395624 76ers Upset Bulls To Advance To Second Round], [[The Sports Network]]. May 11, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.</ref>

[[File:20140814 World Basketball Festival Team USA assistant coaches.JPG|thumb|left|left to right: [[Jim Boeheim]], [[Monty Williams]], and Thibodeau served as assistant coaches for the [[2014 United States FIBA Basketball World Cup team|2014 United States FIBA World Cup team]].]]
Rose missed the entire 2012–13 season, but despite his absence, the Bulls finished 45–37, second in the Central Division (behind the [[Indiana Pacers]]) and 5th in their conference. They defeated the [[Brooklyn Nets]] 4–3 (after leading 3–1) in the first round of the playoffs and lost to the Miami Heat 4–1 in the next round.
On May 13, 2013, Thibodeau was fined $35,000 for defending his players while commenting on the seemingly inadequate foul calls by the referees during the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Miami Heat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/9267302/2013-nba-playoffs-tom-thibodeau-chicago-bulls-fined-35k-comments|title= Tom Thibodeau fined $35,000 |work= NBA| date=May 13, 2012|access-date=May 13, 2012}}</ref>

Thibodeau finished third in 2014 NBA Coach of the Year voting. He led the Bulls, without Rose for the second straight year, to the fourth-best record in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls' season ended with a 4–1 series loss to the fifth-seeded [[Washington Wizards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/media/042214-2013-14-NBA-Coach-of-Year-Votes.pdf|title= 2013–14 NBA Coach of the Year Media Voting Results |work= NBA| date=April 22, 2014|access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref>

Tension between the Bulls' front office and Thibodeau grew considerably over the 2014–15 season, which ended in a six-game series loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Shortly thereafter, on May 28, 2015, the Bulls decided to move in a different direction and let go of Thibodeau.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/story/_/id/12968728/chicago-bulls-fire-tom-thibodeau-coach-five-seasons |title=Tom Thibodeau out in Chicago as Bulls seek 'change in approach' |first=Nick|last=Fridell|work=ESPN.com|date=May 28, 2015|access-date=May 28, 2015}}</ref>

===USA Basketball===
Thibodeau was named on June 10, 2013, an assistant coach for the 2013–16 [[United States men's national basketball team]].<ref name="auto1" /> As a member of the 2014–16 USA Basketball Men's National Team coach staff, Thibodeau assisted the US to a sterling overall record of 26–0. The USA finished 9–0 to win the gold medal at the [[2014 FIBA World Cup]] in Spain, while the 2014 USA National Team compiled a 4–0 record during its exhibition tour before the World Cup. Two years later, Thibodeau was again on the USA bench and helped lead the U.S. to the 2016 Olympic championship as the Americans rolled to an 8–0 record and the gold medal in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Before heading to Rio, the 2016 USA National Team posted a 5–0 record during its domestic exhibition tour.<ref name="auto1" />

Head coach [[Mike Krzyzewski]] heaped enormous praise on Thibodeau, who served as his right-hand man during the victories. "Tom is one of the great coaches on this planet," Krzyzewski said. "To be honest, he talked to the team more than I did," said Krzyzewski.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/ct-greenstein-mens-basketball-olympic-event-spt-0822-20160821-column.html|title=Gold medalist Jimmy Butler salutes Tom Thibodeau, talks of 'love-hate' relationship|first=Teddy|last=Greenstein|website=chicagotribune.com}}</ref>

===Minnesota Timberwolves (2016–2019)===
On April 20, 2016, it was announced that the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] had hired Thibodeau as head coach and president of basketball operations.<ref name="Thibodeau-Wolves">{{cite web|url=http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/minnesota-timberwolves-agree-terms-tom-thibodeau-and-scott-layden|title=Minnesota Timberwolves Agree to Terms with Tom Thibodeau and Scott Layden|website=NBA.com|date=April 20, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2016}}</ref> The Timberwolves had spent the better part of a decade in NBA purgatory, having not made the playoffs since 2004, [[Kevin Garnett]]’s lone MVP season. In his second season, the Timberwolves made their first playoff appearance in 14 years, losing in the [[2018 NBA playoffs|First round]] to the top-seeded [[2017–18 Houston Rockets season|Houston Rockets]] in five games.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23123183/timberwolves-beat-nuggets-ot-end-14-year-playoff-drought|title=Timberwolves beat Nuggets in OT to end 14-year playoff drought|date=April 12, 2018|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> The Timberwolves had a tumultuous off season involving the exit of Jimmy Butler from Minnesota. Thibodeau would be released from the Timberwolves in January 2019 after a period of regression following the end of the playoff drought.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timberwolves Relieve Tom Thibodeau of his Duties|url=https://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/timberwolves-relieve-tom-thibodeau-duties|website=NBA.com|access-date=January 6, 2019|date=January 6, 2019}}</ref>

===New York Knicks (2020–2025)===
On July 30, 2020, the [[New York Knicks]] announced that they hired Thibodeau as their head coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nba.nbcsports.com/2020/07/30/knicks-hire-tom-thibodeau-as-coach/|title=Knicks hire Tom Thibodeau as coach|first=Dan|last=Feldman|date=July 30, 2020}}</ref> In the shortened [[2020–21 NBA season|2020–21 season]], his first as head coach of the Knicks, Thibodeau guided the Knicks to their first playoff appearance since the [[2012–13 NBA season|2012–13 season]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Deb |first1=Sopan |title=Brace Yourselves: The Knicks Are Going to the Playoffs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/13/sports/basketball/knicks-playoffs.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 19, 2021 |date=May 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Berman |first1=Marc |title=Knicks are going back to the NBA playoffs: 'Not close to done' |url=https://nypost.com/2021/05/12/knicks-clinch-playoff-spot-for-first-time-in-eight-years/ |work=New York Post |access-date=May 13, 2021 |date=May 13, 2021}}</ref> After the season Thibodeau was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.<ref>{{cite web |title=New York's Tom Thibodeau wins 2020–21 NBA Coach of the Year award |url=https://www.nba.com/news/new-yorks-tom-thibodeau-wins-2020-21-nba-coach-of-the-year-award |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 8, 2021 |date=June 7, 2021}}</ref> During his stint in New York, Thibodeau was widely credited with returning the recently struggling franchise to regular playoff contention, including leading the Knicks to their first [[2025 NBA playoffs|Eastern Conference Finals]] appearance in 25 years in [[2024–25 New York Knicks season|2025]]. Despite that playoff run, which included eliminating the [[2024 NBA Finals|defending champion]] [[2024–25 Boston Celtics season|Boston Celtics]] 4–2 in the Semi-Finals, Thibodeau was relieved of his duties on June 3, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|title=KNICKS ANNOUNCE COACHING CHANGE|url=https://www.nba.com/knicks/news/knicks-announce-coaching-change|website=NBA.com|date=June 3, 2025|access-date=June 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==
===College===
{{CBB yearly record start | type = coach| conference = | postseason=}}
{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead
 | name = [[Salem State University|Salem State Vikings]]
 | conference= [[Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference]]
 | startyear = 1984
 | endyear = 1985
}}
{{CBB yearly record entry
| championship = 
| season = 1984–85
| name = Salem State
| overall = 9–17
| conference = 4–8<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB2/E/Men%27s%20Basketball_Men%27s_Division%20III_1985_621_Salem%20State%20College.pdf |title=Salem State College |publisher=web1.ncaa.org |date= |accessdate=2021-03-03}}</ref>
| confstanding = 7th
}}
{{CBB yearly record subtotal
| name = Salem State
| overall = 9–17
| confrecord = 4–8
}}
{{CBB yearly record end
| overall = 9–17
| legend = no
}}

===NBA===
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2010–11 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2010}}
| 82||62||20||{{Winning percentage|62|20}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in [[Central Division (NBA)|Central]]||16||9||7||{{Winning percentage|9|7}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2011 NBA playoffs|conference finals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2011–12 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2011}}
| 66||50||16||{{Winning percentage|50|16}}|| style="text-align:center;"|1st in Central||6||2||4||{{Winning percentage|2|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2012 NBA playoffs|first round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2012–13 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2012}}
| 82||45||37||{{Winning percentage|45|37}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Central ||12||5||7||{{Winning percentage|5|7}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2013 NBA playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2013–14 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2013}}
| 82||48||34||{{Winning percentage|48|34}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Central ||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2014 NBA playoffs|first round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2014–15 Chicago Bulls season|Chicago]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2014}}
| 82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Central ||12||6||6||{{Winning percentage|6|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2015 NBA playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2016–17 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2016}}
| 82||31||51||{{Winning percentage|31|51}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in [[Northwest Division (NBA)|Northwest]]||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2017–18 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2017}}
| 82||47||35||{{Winning percentage|47|35}}|| style="text-align:center;"|4th in Northwest||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2018 NBA playoffs|first round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2018–19 Minnesota Timberwolves season|Minnesota]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2018}}
| 40||19||21||{{Winning percentage|19|21}}|| style="text-align:center;"|(fired)||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2020–21 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2020}}
| 72||41||31||{{Winning percentage|41|31}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic]]||5||1||4||{{Winning percentage|1|4}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2021 NBA playoffs|first round]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2021–22 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2021}}
| 82||37||45||{{Winning percentage|37|45}}|| style="text-align:center;"|5th in Atlantic||—||—||—||—
| style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2022–23 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2022}}
| 82||47||35||{{Winning percentage|47|35}}|| style="text-align:center;"|3rd in Atlantic||11||6||5||{{Winning percentage|6|5}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2023 NBA playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2023–24 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2023}}
| 82||50||32||{{Winning percentage|50|32}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Atlantic||13||7||6||{{Winning percentage|7|6}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2024 NBA playoffs|conference semifinals]]
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|[[2024–25 New York Knicks season|New York]]
| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2024}}
| 82||51||31||{{Winning percentage|51|31}}|| style="text-align:center;"|2nd in Atlantic||18||10||8||{{Winning percentage|10|8}}
| style="text-align:center;"|Lost in [[2025 NBA playoffs|conference finals]]
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 998||578||420||{{Winning percentage|578|420}}||&nbsp;||103||48||55||{{Winning percentage|48|55}}||&nbsp;
{{s-end}}

==Coaching style==
In his five years as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls, the franchise was 255–139 ({{winpct|255|139}} winning percentage), and led the league in close-game winning percentage at {{winpct|66|40}} (66–40).

Thibodeau has been compared to successful NFL coach [[Bill Belichick]] because of his attention to detail, organization, and game planning. “[Thibodeau] was meticulously organized, almost scary organized, and he reminded me of Bill Belichick. I’ve spent a lot of time with Belichick and Thibodeau’s got a lot of the same mannerisms, the same attention to detail that Belichick has. And that’s about the highest compliment I could give someone," said Hall of Fame basketball coach [[Rick Pitino]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/ny-tom-thibodeau-belichick-knicks-coach-20200718-zuf6j2maqrembmudop56o3qaji-story.html|title=The backstory of Tom Thibodeau's Belichick-ian approach to practice and development|first=Stefan|last=Bondy|website=nydailynews.com}}</ref> "[Thibodeau is] very similar to Bill Belichick if you ever to go to a Bill Belichick practice,” said former NBA player [[Brian Scalabrine]]. “Every smallest detail of his practice is talked about. Every pass has to be seamed. Every shot has to be quick and balanced. Every pick-and-roll you have to come off shoulder-to-hip,” said Scalabrine.<ref name="auto" />

He has been called "one of the best coaches in the NBA",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://deadspin.com/tom-thibodeau-is-even-more-intense-than-you-thought-1702715254|title=Tom Thibodeau Is Even More Intense Than You Thought|author=Kevin Draper|work=Deadspin|date=May 7, 2015 |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> sometimes ranking among the top five coaches in the league among NBA general managers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/12561256/2015-front-office-rankings-top-coaches|title=NBA: 2015 Front Office Rankings – Top coaches|work=ESPN.com|date=March 26, 2015 |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> He was ranked 13th best coach in 2017 by ESPN, despite the Timberwolves finishing outside of playoff contention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/19024161/coach-ratings-1-30|title=Is Pop on top? Ranking the league's coaches, from 1 to 30|date=March 29, 2017|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>

Highly regarded as a defensive strategist, in January 2013, ESPN praised Thibodeau's defensive system as "the pinnacle of team defensive strategy in the NBA."<ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/53677/the-book-on-tom-thibodeau|title=The book on Tom Thibodeau|work=ESPN.com|date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> However, according to a 2010 Boston Globe article, "one of the many misconceptions about Thibodeau is that he’s strictly a defensive specialist." Jeff Van Gundy hired Thibodeau because he was drawn to "his innovative offensive sets" and "player development skills."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2010/06/03/attention_to_detail/|title=Attention to detail|newspaper=Boston.com |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=December 10, 2015|last1=MacMullan |first1=Jackie }}</ref>

==Player development==
Thibodeau has been described as a "no-nonsense coach, but his personal authenticity and the success of his strategies endear him to his players."<ref name="ESPN" /> According to [[Kevin Garnett]], who played for Thibodeau in Boston, Thibodeau is "a worker. He's a guy that loves his job. He does it with passion."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/bulls/2010-06-07-thibodeau-offense_N.htm|title=New Bulls coach Thibodeau knows both sides of the ball – USATODAY.com|access-date=December 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703060048/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/bulls/2010-06-07-thibodeau-offense_N.htm|archive-date=July 3, 2013}}</ref> Thibodeau also helped develop a young [[Kobe Bryant]]. "[Thibodeau] was crucial [to my development]. He was with me when I was 16 or 17 years old," Bryant said in 2010. "Just doing drills and just working on ballhandling and just teaching me the game. He was there from Day 1."<ref name="auto" />

In 2005, while an assistant with the Houston Rockets, Thibodeau began working with [[Yao Ming]], traveling to China to hone Yao's skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2007/08/tom-thibodeau-defensive-guru.html|title=CelticsGreenBlog.com celtics fans only!: Tom Thibodeau – Defensive Guru|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> According to Jon Barry, a former NBA player who worked as an assistant with the Rockets, "Thibodeau was an effective one-on-one teacher [who spent] countless hours ... working with Yao Ming on his footwork...."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703864204576313301231619270|title=Chicago Bulls' Tom Thibodeau Is NBA's Regular-Guy Coach – WSJ|author=Scott Cacciola|date=10 May 2011|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> Also, former Rockets head coach [[Jeff Van Gundy]] praised Thibodeau for his development of Yao. "Tom was tremendous in developing a routine that Yao could follow — a blueprint to take him from being good to being great,” said Van Gundy.<ref name="auto" /> During the 2004–05 season, Yao averaged 18.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The following season, after working with Thibodeau, Yao averaged 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds.

A number of Thibodeau's former players have praised him for his ability to develop their talent. According to [[Joakim Noah]], who played for Thibodeau and finished 4th in MVP voting with the Bulls in 2014, "I feel like I really improved as a player because of him."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nba/news/story?id=6460616|title=Chicago Bulls' Tom Thibodeau wins NBA Coach of the Year Award|work=ESPN.com|date=May 2011 |access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref>

Rose, who became the youngest MVP in league history under Thibodeau, also had similar praise for his former coach, telling the Detroit News, “I figured out that Thibs loved me unconditionally. He’s the first coach up here that I felt like loved me unconditionally and it wasn’t about what I did for him."<ref>{{cite web | last=Cowley | first=Joe | title=Former Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau is hungry to start winning again | website=Chicago Sun-Times | date=2020-02-13 | url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2020/2/13/21135479/tom-thibodeau-hungry-start-winning-again-bulls-timberwolves-nba-all-star-weekend | access-date=2021-03-03}}</ref>

==Personal life==
A native of [[New Britain, Connecticut]], Thibodeau was born to Thomas J. Thibodeau Sr., and Ann M. (Montanile) Thibodeau and has four siblings (two brothers and two sisters).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101125/sports/711269943/|title=He's on the ball: Bulls' Thibodeau off to a good start|author=Mike McGraw|date=25 November 2010|work=Daily Herald|access-date=December 10, 2015}}</ref> He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree and a [[Master of Science]] in [[counseling]] from [[Salem State University]]. In 1998, he was inducted into the ''New Britain Sports [[hall of fame|Hall of Fame]]''.

Thibodeau has never been married.<ref>Greenstein, Teddy. [https://web.archive.org/web/20120928133913/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-05-14/sports/ct-spt-0515-bulls-tom-thibodeau-chica20110514_1_gar-forman-kate-middleton-basketball], ChicagoTribune.com, May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2011.</ref> According to a 2012 ''New York Times'' profile, Thibodeau was engaged while he was in graduate school at Salem State, but the marriage was called off six weeks before the scheduled wedding. The same article focused on Thibodeau's obsessive focus on basketball as the reason he has never had the time or attention to have much of a personal life, marriage included.<ref name="nytimes.com" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Tom Thibodeau}}
* [http://www.nba.com/coachfile/tom_thibodeau/index.html NBA profile]

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{{Use American English|date=December 2015}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Thibodeau, Tom}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
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