About Ron Rothstein
Born 1942. Ron Rothstein is an American basketball coach and basketball player.
Ronald L. Rothstein (born December 27, 1942) is an American former professional basketball coach and college basketball player, who has led many different NBA teams. He served as the first head coach for the Miami Heat, and later coached the Detroit Pistons. He has also coached in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 2007β08, he also filled in for Pat Riley as an interim coach for the Heat.
Early life Born in Bronx, New York, Rothstein graduated from Roosevelt High School of Yonkers, New York in 1960 and played college basketball at the University of Rhode Island for the Rams. At Rhode Island, Rothstein was team captain as a senior and graduated in 1964 with a degree in physical education. In 1966, Rothstein earned his master's in physical education from Hunter College.
Family
Rothstein is married with two children and four grandchildren.
Career Rothstein began his coaching career in 1966 at Eastchester High School in Eastchester, New York and would remain until 1976. During the summer of 1967, he was the athletic director at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Bethel, New York. He then became assistant coach at NCAA Division III Upsala College for one season and then worked as head coach at New Rochelle High School of New Rochelle, New York from 1976 to 1978. Rothstein returned to Eastchester High for the 1978β79 season and coached varsity basketball and physical education thru June 1983.
In 1979, Rothstein signed as a scout for the Atlanta Hawks and was named assistant coach in July 1983. He was signed as an assistant for the Detroit Pistons in 1986 before becoming the first coach in Heat history (1988). Rothstein would eventually return to the Heat as an assistant.
On January 3, 2007, Rothstein was named as the interim head coach of the Miami Heat in place of Pat Riley, who took a leave of absence for knee and hip surgery.
Head coaching record NBA
WNBA
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Important facts
People in Ron Rothstein's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ron Rothstein's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ron Rothstein?
American basketball player and coach
When was Ron Rothstein born?
Ron Rothstein was born on 27 December 1942 in Bronxville.
What is Ron Rothstein's occupation?
Ron Rothstein is a basketball coach and basketball player.
What nationality is Ron Rothstein?
Ron Rothstein is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ron Rothstein. https://biography.guide/ron-rothstein/
MLA: "Ron Rothstein." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ron-rothstein/.
Chicago: "Ron Rothstein." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ron-rothstein/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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