Ed Badger (born November 5, 1932) is a former college and professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
coach.
Early life
Badger played junior varsity college basketball at the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is org ...
, and later for the U.S. Air Force and division teams. He got his first basketball coaching job at St. Mary's High School, while getting his master's degree from the University of Iowa. After receiving his master's degree, Badger moved to Marengo, Iowa to coach the Marengo High School basketball team. He won the conference in his second year.
Coaching career
Early jobs
Badger then moved up to the college coaching ranks. For the next 15 years he was a very successful head basketball coach at
Wilbur Wright College
Wilbur Wright College, formerly known as Wright Junior College, is a public community college in Chicago. Part of the City Colleges of Chicago system, it offers two-year associate's degrees, as well as occupational training in IT, manufacturing, ...
. Badger's teams won 25 or more games ever year he coached. In the 1973–74 and 1974–75 seasons Badger's teams went 33–0 and were ranked number 1 nationally in the polls for junior college teams.
In international basketball, Badger was an Olympic basketball camp coach from 1968 to 1974. He also coached the Austrian national team in 1972 and coached the 1973 U.S. team during the World University Games in Moscow, winning the gold medal.
Chicago Bulls
Badger joined the
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...
as a part‐time assistant and head scout in 1973 while still athletic director and coach at Wright. He became a full-time assistant in
1975–76. He was appointed the Bulls' third-ever head coach on August 25, 1976, succeeding
Dick Motta
John Richard Motta (born September 3, 1931) is an American former basketball coach whose career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) spanned 25 years. Motta coached the Washington Bullets to the 1978 NBA Championship, and he won the 1971 ...
who had accepted a similar position with the
Washington Bullets
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays ...
three months earlier on May 28.
"Badger, Aide Under Motta, Is Named Coach of Bulls," ''The Associated Press'' (AP), Wednesday, August 25, 1976.
Retrieved December 4, 2020 He served in that capacity for two seasons from 1976 to 1978. He had a winning record and made the playoffs in his first season.
Cincinnati Bearcats
He was head coach of the University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati (UC or Cincinnati) is a public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded in 1819 as Cincinnati College, it is the oldest institution of higher education in Cincinnati and has an annual enrollment of over 44,00 ...
Bearcats' men's basketball team from 1978 to 1983, where he was a two-time Metro Conference coach of the year. On Dec. 21, 1981 Badger's team defeated Bradley 75–73 in a game that went into seven overtime periods.
Return to the NBA
Badger accepted an assistant coach job with the Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...
in 1983. He then joined the Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of t ...
as an assistant coach and director of scouting under K.C. Jones
K. C. Jones (May 25, 1932 – December 25, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He is best known for his association with the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), with whom he won 11 of his 12 ...
in 1984, where he won an NBA championship with the 1985–1986 team, considered by many to be one of the greatest NBA teams of all time.
In 1988 Badger became vice president of basketball operations for the new expansion team Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets are an American professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Hornets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division, and pla ...
, where he stayed until 1990. He joined the Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Sou ...
as director of scouting from 1990 to 1992. In 1992, he returned as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The Pacers were first esta ...
, followed by assistant coach jobs with Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...
and Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...
and a chief scout job for the Minnesota Timberwolves
The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. Founded in 19 ...
before retiring in 2003.
Head coaching record
NBA
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College
References
External links
BasketballReference.com: Ed Badger
{{DEFAULTSORT:Badger, Ed
1932 births
Living people
American men's basketball coaches
Boston Celtics assistant coaches
Charlotte Hornets assistant coaches
Chicago Bulls assistant coaches
Chicago Bulls head coaches
Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball coaches
College men's basketball head coaches in the United States
High school basketball coaches in Iowa
Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball players
Junior college men's basketball coaches in the United States
Miami Heat assistant coaches
Wilbur Wright College faculty
American men's basketball players
People from West New York, New Jersey
Basketball coaches from New Jersey
Basketball players from New Jersey