Henry Bibby: A Legacy of Championships in Basketball
Charles Henry Bibby (born November 24, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who has achieved success at nearly every level of the sport. From his collegiate triumphs to his professional career and his time as a coach, Bibby has left an indelible mark on the world of basketball.
Collegiate Dominance at UCLA
Henry Bibby's college basketball journey began in 1969 when he joined the UCLA Bruins. As a starting point guard for the UCLA Bruins, Bibby helped lead the Bruins through the first 47 games of an 88-game winning streak. Under the guidance of the legendary coach John Wooden, Bibby was a key component of a dynasty. He was a starting point guard as the UCLA Bruins won three straight national championships in 1970, 1971 and 1972, the Bruins' sixth consecutive under head coach John Wooden. His senior year, Bibby was named an All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.
NBA Career
In the 1972 NBA draft, Bibby was drafted in the fourth round by the New York Knicks and in the second round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the Carolina Cougars. After college, Henry Bibby was chosen in the 1972 NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He decided to play for the Knicks. He spent two and a half seasons with the team. Bibby played for nine seasons in the NBA. He played for the New York Knicks, New Orleans Jazz, Philadelphia 76ers, and San Diego Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was also part of the Philadelphia 76ers teams that reached the NBA Finals in 1977 and 1980. As a player and coach, Henry Bibby has seen success on the biggest stages that basketball has to offer. Bibby was then drafted by the New York Knicks in the 1972 NBA draft and won the NBA Championship in 1973.
Coaching Career
Bibby started his coaching career in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and won two championships in 1982 and 1989. His coaching career began in the CBA leading the Winnipeg Thunder to two championships in 1982 & 1989. In 1996, he was named coach of the men's basketball team at the University of Southern California (USC), and kept that position for nine seasons. As head coach for the USC Trojans, Coach Bibby led the men’s basketball team to 3 NCAA Tournaments including an “Elite Eight” appearance in 2001. Bibby had an overall won-loss record of 131-111 at USC. He led his 1997, 2001 and 2002 teams to the NCAA tournament, including an "Elite Eight" appearance in 2001. In April 2005, he was named head coach of the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). On January 17, 2006, Bibby was hired by the Philadelphia 76ers as an assistant coach on Maurice Cheeks' staff and remained there until the end of the 2007-2008 season, when his contract was not renewed. In February 2009 he was hired by the Memphis Grizzlies as an assistant coach. Henry Bibby also worked as an assistant coach for several NBA teams. In 2006, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff. He stayed with them until 2008. In 2009, he became an assistant coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, where he worked until 2013.
Family Legacy
Henry Bibby comes from a family of athletes. Bibby is the brother of Jim Bibby (1944-2010), a former Major League Baseball pitcher. His brother, Jim Bibby, was a professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball. Henry Bibby and his son, Mike, are one of the few father-son pairs to both win an NCAA basketball championship. Bibby is the father of Mike Bibby, who played in the NBA.
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tags: #henry #bibby #ucla #career
