- published: 06 Dec 2015
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Ronald L. "Ron" 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 2007-08, he also filled in for Pat Riley as an interim coach for the Heat.
Born in Bronxville, 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.
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 1978–79 season and coached varsity basketball and physical education thru June 1983.