Marc Ivaroni life and biography

Marc John Iavaroni is a retired American professional basketball player, current assistant coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, and former head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

Iavaroni spent the 2009-10 campaign as an assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors after serving the previous two seasons as head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies. Prior to his time in Memphis, Iavaroni was an assistant in Phoenix (2002-07), Miami (1999-2002) and Cleveland (1997-99). In his five seasons with the Suns they made four trips to the NBA Playoffs, including two appearances in the Western Conference Finals (2005, 2006), compiling an impressive regular season record of 250-160 (.610).

His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, helping the Cavaliers to their first Final Four appearance in 1981. Following his professional playing career, Iavaroni was an assistant coach at Bowling Green State for two seasons from 1992-94 under Jim Larranaga, who led George Mason to the 2006 Final Four.

The 55th overall selection in the 1978 NBA Draft, Iavaroni averaged 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds over his seven-year NBA career. Iavaroni played professionally overseas for five seasons in Italy and Spain, including three seasons after his college career and two seasons following his NBA career. He was a starter as a rookie on the 76ers’ 1983 World Championship team. Iavaroni’s teams, which also included San Antonio and Utah, qualified for the playoffs every season of his career. Iavaroni concluded his professional career alongside Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni in Milan, Italy before retiring in 1991.

As a collegian, Iavaroni was a four-year starter and finished in 1978 ranked in Virginia’s top 10 in career scoring and rebounding. He gained first-team All-Tournament honors on Virginia’s 1976 ACC Tournament championship team, an accomplishment he still considers among his most satisfying playing achievements.

Read more