The Miami Heat lost two of their long-time coaches on Thursday when Ron Rothstein and Bob McAdoo left the bench.
Rothstein retired from coaching and will now take a role on the broadcasting team for the Heat. McAdoo will take on a whole new type of role as he becomes a pro scout for the team. Both men will also serve as liaisons for the team.
“Both Ron and Bob were instrumental in the success of the Heat and their contributions to our three championships cannot be overstated,” Heat President Pat Riley said in the statement from the team.
McAdoo served as an assistant coach in Miami since 1995. He took his seat on the bench after his playing career came to an end in 1993 and the Hall of Famer never coached another team. McAdoo won two NBA titles as a player and another three as a coach with the Heat. His talents are global as he was also named as one of the 50 Greatest Contributors in Euroleague History in 2008.
Rothstein was the head coach of the Heat in their inaugural season. He held onto the title from 1988-1991 before departing for Detroit. Rothstein would return in 2004 as an assistant in Miami and he held onto that title until Thursday's retirement decision. The 71-year old was also interim head coach in Miami in 2007 when Riley stepped away due to surgery on his knee and hip.
Rothstein worked in television before as it was actually the role he first held in Detroit before becoming their head coach in 1992.
It is unclear who will join the Heat bench as a new assistant but these moves likely point to an increased role for Juwan Howard who was an assistant coach for the first time this past season.
