Fred Hoiberg: A Look at His Coaching Career
Fred Hoiberg is a veteran of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He has had an impressive career, both as a player and a coach. From 1995 to 2005, he played for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Minnesota Timberwolves. After spending four years as the head coach of his alma mater, Iowa State University, he returned to the NBA in 2015 as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls.
Early Life and Education
Fred Hoiberg was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1972. He was raised in Ames, Iowa, by his parents, Eric and Karen Hoiberg. He attended Ames High School, where he was an excellent basketball player. He graduated in 1990 and went on to play for the Iowa State Cyclones.
Hoiberg was a two-time All-Big Eight selection during his college career. He was also a two-time honorable mention All-American. He graduated from Iowa State in 1995 with a degree in marketing and finance.
Playing Career
Hoiberg was selected in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He would go on to play 10 seasons in the NBA, mainly playing for the Pacers and the Chicago Bulls. During his playing career, he was known for his three-point shooting and hard-nosed defense.
In 2004, Hoiberg signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played in only seven games before being sidelined due to a heart condition. He underwent successful open-heart surgery, and announced his retirement from basketball in 2005.
Coaching Career
After his retirement from the NBA, Hoiberg was hired as the head coach of his alma mater, Iowa State University. In his four seasons as head coach, he led the Cyclones to three NCAA Tournament appearances and one Big 12 Conference Championship.
In 2015, Hoiberg returned to the NBA to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. In his first season, the Bulls finished with a record of 42-40 and qualified for the playoffs. The team made the playoffs again the following season, but was eliminated in the first round.
The 2017-18 Season
The 2017-18 season was a difficult one for the Bulls. The team struggled to a 27-55 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since Hoiberg took over as head coach. Following the season, the Bulls opted to part ways with Hoiberg and hired Jim Boylen as his successor.
The 2018-19 Season
Hoiberg did not stay unemployed for long. In April 2018, he was hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves as an associate head coach. He served in this role for one season, under head coach Ryan Saunders.
The 2019-20 Season
In October 2019, Hoiberg was named the head coach of the Sacramento Kings. He was tasked with turning around a team that had missed the playoffs for the past 13 seasons.
2020-21 Season
The 2020-21 season was a difficult one for the Kings. The team struggled to a 31-41 record and finished in 11th place in the Western Conference. Following the season, the Kings and Hoiberg mutually agreed to part ways.
The 2021-22 Season
In May 2021, Hoiberg was hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team had just finished a successful season, with a record of 44-28 and a playoff appearance. Hoiberg will be tasked with taking the Thunder to the next level.
What NBA Team Did Fred Hoiberg Coach?
Fred Hoiberg has coached three teams in the NBA: the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Sacramento Kings. He is currently the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Conclusion
Fred Hoiberg is a veteran of the NBA, both as a player and a coach. He has had an impressive career, leading the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs in his first season as head coach. He also had successful stints with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Sacramento Kings. He is currently the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and will be tasked with taking the team to the next level.