Eddie Jordan, a member of the Rutgers University Hall of Distinguished Alumni who helped the Scarlet Knights to the 1976 Final Four, has been named the 18th head coach in the history of the Rutgers men’s basketball program. He returns to “The Banks” with an NBA Championship ring and with 28 seasons of coaching experience, including eight at the collegiate level and 19 in the NBA.
RU’s all-time leader in both assists (585) and steals (220), “Fast Eddie” scored 1,632 career points and earned honorable mention All-American honors as a senior in 1977 before earning a degree in health and physical education. He later returned as an assistant under coaches Tom Young (1984-85) and Bob Wenzel (1988-92). In his nine total seasons with the Scarlet Knights, RU earned eight postseason berths, including four NCAA Championship bids.
“This is going to be a challenge, but a wonderful challenge,” said Jordan. “There is a lot of work to be done. I would like to thank the Rutgers University Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees, President Robert Barchi and Interim Director of Athletics Carl Kirschner for their confidence. The support in and around the Rutgers community has been tremendous. It will definitely help to form the foundation of our program moving forward.”
“Without question, Eddie Jordan is part of our basketball program’s most cherished memories—and he is here now to help us make a bright future for the Scarlet Knights,” said President Robert Barchi. “He is passionate about basketball and committed to winning, yet he also knows our university’s values and our commitment to promoting an atmosphere of respect and dignity for everyone. He is the right leader at a pivotal moment for the Rutgers men’s basketball program.”
"I have come to know Eddie Jordan as an open, honest and terrific person to lead our men’s basketball program,” said Interim Director of Athletics Carl Kirschner. “Rutgers is very fortunate to have Eddie return to his alma mater to restore pride in the program.”
Jordan agreed to a five-year contract with a guaranteed compensation of $6,250,000.
Jordan most recently served as an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers this season (2012-13) under head coach Mike D’Antoni, returning to the club for which he earned a championship as a player in 1982. He helped the Lakers to its eighth-straight playoff appearance, working with notable players such as Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Paul Gasol and Steve Nash. Jordan transitioned back to the NBA after serving as a freshman coach at his alma mater, Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington, D.C., while also working as head coach of the D.C. Assault 17U AAU team.
Jordan has served as an NBA head coach for three different teams over nine seasons. He compiled a career regular season mark of 257-343 (.428) and a playoff record of 8-18 (.308) over nine seasons with Sacramento (1996-98), Washington (2003-09) and Philadelphia (2009-10). Among the players to earn All-Star recognition under his head coaching leadership are Mitch Richmond, Caron Butler, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison and Allen Iverson.
Born (Jan. 29, 1955) and raised in Washington, D.C., Jordan served as head coach of his hometown Wizards from the 2003-04 season through the first 11 games of 2008-09. After inheriting a Wizards team that posted a losing record in five-straight seasons, Jordan was able to guide the 2004-05 Wizards to their highest win total in 25 years in just his second season, while giving Washington its first playoff berth since 1997 and advancing past the first round for the first time since 1982. Jordan’s Wizards made four-straight playoff appearances from 2004-05 through 2007-08. Prior to his arrival, Washington made the playoffs just once over a 16-year span. The Wizards ranked sixth in the league in scoring in 2004-05, third in 2005-06 and fourth in 2006-07.
Before his time with the Wizards, Jordan served as the lead assistant coach on Byron Scott’s staff in New Jersey from 2000-03, helping the Nets to the NBA Finals in back-to-back years in 2002 and 2003. Among the players Jordan worked with in the Garden State were Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, Stephon Marbury, Kenyon Martin and Dikembe Mutombo. Prior to his work with the Nets, Jordan was an assistant coach with Sacramento for five seasons beginning in 1992, before being named head coach of the Kings for the final 15 games of the 1996-97 campaign. He would spend his first full season as an NBA head coach with the Kings for the 1997-98 season, his last year with the club.
After retiring from the NBA in 1984, Jordan began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at Rutgers. He followed Young to Old Dominion before landing an assistant coaching position under Jim O’Brien at Boston College, where he served from 1986-88. He later returned to Rutgers as an assistant coach under Wenzel. The Scarlet Knights made NCAA appearances in 1989 and 1991 and earned NIT berths in 1990 and 1992.
Originally selected by Cleveland in the second round of the 1977 NBA Draft (33rd overall), Jordan averaged 8.1 points, 3.8 assists, 1.9 rebounds and 1.82 steals in seven seasons with the Cavaliers, Nets, Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. While with the Nets, Jordan led the league in total steals in 1978-79 and was second in 1979-80. He played in 420 NBA games and scored 3,414 career points.
Inducted into Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980 and the Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2004, Jordan was the point guard and catalyst of the great Rutgers teams of the mid-1970’s. He was the on-court general for the 1975-76 Scarlet Knights, who fashioned a perfect 26-0 regular season mark and wound up with a 31-2 record. He was named the 1976 NCAA Tournament East Regional MVP.
Jordan and his wife Charrisse have two children, son Jackson and daughter Skylar. Jordan also has three sons: Justin, Eddie II and Paul. Eddie II was a three-year (2000-01, 2003) varsity football letterwinner at Rutgers under head coach Greg Schiano, playing tight end and linebacker. Charrisse Jordan was appointed President of “Behind the Bench,” a non-profit organization developed by the National Basketball Wives Association, which raises funds and awareness for charities that benefit women and children.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT EDDIE JORDAN
David Stern, Rutgers graduate and NBA Commissioner: “Eddie is a great choice to lead Rutgers during this important transition for the program. His knowledge and passion for the game, coupled with his extraordinary ability to teach, will serve the university well as he returns to his basketball roots at RU.”
Dick Vitale, College basketball analyst and former Rutgers assistant coach: “Eddie Jordan is a grand slam of a hire. He brings a special passion and pride to the position. His love for Rutgers will be felt by everyone associated with the Scarlet Knights. His NBA contacts and experience will be a major help on the recruiting trail.”
Jason Kidd, 10-time NBA All-Star point guard: “Rutgers picked the right coach in Eddie Jordan. He’s the perfect basketball mind and person to turn that program around.”
Kenyon Martin, All-Star and 13-year NBA veteran forward: “I have the utmost respect for Eddie, as a basketball coach, player and a man. He is very deserving of this job and I have all the confidence in the world that he will be successful.”
Jeff Van Gundy, NBA analyst and former Rutgers assistant coach: “Eddie is the right hire at the right time for Rutgers University. His combination of basketball knowledge, his ability to relate to all sorts (of people) and his humble demeanor will allow him to unite Rutgers behind its basketball team. (Rutgers) will be proud of the product he puts on the floor.”
Tom Young, Rutgers Athletics Hall of Fame Head Coach (1973-85): “This is the best thing that has happened to Rutgers since (Jordan) took them to the Final Four. Eddie will succeed at Rutgers because he is a good guy and he understands the game of basketball. From day one, Eddie was respected as a point guard and could communicate well with his teammates. That has helped him in the coaching profession. Some people worry that because he has been a NBA coach for so long, that he won’t be able to get into the collegiate scene. That is the furthest thing from the truth. He will not have any problems adjusting to the X’s and O’s of college basketball.”
Bob Wenzel, College basketball analyst and former Rutgers head coach (1988-97): “I’m thrilled that Rutgers made a great choice in Eddie Jordan. It’s a home run. He’s one of the most endearing people to ever play at Rutgers. In our time together, he was a great assistant. He has a wealth of basketball knowledge with all of his NBA experience.”
Hollis Copeland, Former teammate and Rutgers All-American: “I think very highly of Eddie. He’s been a head coach of three NBA teams, as well as an NBA assistant coach, college coach and AAU coach. He’s in a position to completely change the complexion of the Rutgers basketball program. It’s a marriage made in heaven. When you look at that (1976) Final Four team, we were a family. We haven’t changed since then and we still stay in touch to share our views. That’s the attitude he will bring. The same attitude we had way back when. He’s a man of high moral fiber. There’s a difference between players just respecting you because you’re the coach and liking you. I think players will like him, and that’s important in a program like Rutgers.”
Phil Sellers, Former teammate and Rutgers First Team All-American: “I can’t express how much this means. Rutgers has a guy who understands what it means to have respect for others. Eddie knows how to approach people. He’s been fortunate to be around some great coaches in his career. Having been his roommate for a couple of years (at Rutgers), to see how far Eddie has come is a great feeling. He’s a hard worker. Anybody who has been associated with Eddie knows that. When he gets his teeth into something, he focuses in. Hard work brings success, so he can only be successful.”
Pete Carill, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Head Coach: “Eddie Jordan is the best around, anywhere to turn Rutgers into what it could be.”
Kate Sweeney, former Rutgers women’s basketball player and co-chair of the A.D. Search Committee: “I’m excited to have EJ back ‘On the Banks;’ I’m excited he’s coming home. He’s part of a winning culture of Rutgers basketball. I look forward to watching him reestablish a culture of winning and pride in the program.”
THE JORDAN FILE
Born: January 29, 1955 in Washington, D.C.
High School: Archbishop Carroll, Washington, D.C.
College: Rutgers ‘77, health and physical education.
NBA Draft: Second round, 33rd overall by Cleveland.
NBA Career: Cleveland Cavaliers (1977), New Jersey Nets (1977-80), Los Angeles Lakers (1980-83), Portland Trailblazers (1984), Los Angeles Lakers (1984).
College Coaching: Rutgers (volunteer, 1984) Old Dominion (1985), Boston College (1986-88), Rutgers (1988-92).
NBA Coaching: Sacramento Kings (assistant, 1992-1997; head coach, 1997-98); New Jersey Nets (assistant, 1998-03), Washington Wizards (head coach, 2003-08); Philadelphia 76ers (head coach, 2009-10); Los Angeles Lakers (assistant, 2012-13).
High School Coaching: Archbishop Carroll High School (freshmen, 2011-12); D.C. Assault AAU (17U coach, 2011-12).
