Dave Cowens

With his fierce tenacity for the game and relentless work ethic, Dave Cowens was able to prove wrong the critics who said that at 6�9 he was too short to be a center in the NBA. Cowens made up for the height with his consistency, high energy, versatility, and hard work, all traits that helped make him one of the elite players in the NBA. Entering his first year as a head coach in the WNBA, this is exactly how �Big Red� intends to succeed, by bringing his characteristics as a player, to his new team as a coach and general manager.

Cowens spent 10 years, of an 11-year-playing career, with the Boston Celtics, the team that drafted him in 1970 with the 4th over all pick. Celtics General Manager at the time, Red Auerbach, said when he decided to draft Cowens, �He's a very dedicated kid. A dedicated kid isn't unheard of, but there aren't as many around as we would like. But our problem with Cowens is telling him when to lay off. He does too much.�

In his first year in the league, Cowens received the Co-Rookie of the Year award averaging 17.6 and 13.6 rebounds a game. He helped rejuvenate the Celtics in the �70s and went on to lead them to two NBA Championships in �74 and �76. He earned NBA MVP honors in 1973, averaging 20.5 points a game, and 16.2 rebounds a game. �Being named the MVP by my peers meant a lot to me. I was always out to gain the respect of the players. They are the only ones who understand your work habits.� During his illustrious NBA career, Cowens was a member of the NBA All-Star team 7 times, and won the MVP of the All-Star game in �73. He was named to the �76 All-Defensive Team and All-Defensive Second team in 1975 and 1980. He also ranks 8th in all time rebounds per game in NBA history, with an average of 13.6 boards per game.

In 1990, Cowens received the privilege of being inducted into NBA Hall of Fame. When inducted to the Hall, he said, �I never thought of myself as a superstar. I represent the working class of the NBA. I'm honored they've selected me, because I could name a whole lot of guys who were better than Dave Cowens. You have to play with the right people and get picked by the right team. Let's face it, I was pretty lucky.� In 1996, he was again honored when he was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history. Cowens� number 18 is retired from the Celtics, hanging in the rafters of the TD Banknorth Garden.

After hanging up his high tops, Cowens became the Athletic Director for Regis College, a liberal arts college for woman in the Boston area. He then went on to become the Chairman/Executive Director of the New England Sports Museum and helped found the NBA Retired Players� Association. But, the lure of the gym was strong and he began coaching for the Bay State Bombadiers of the Continental Basketball Association in 1984-85. He got back into the NBA when he served as Assistant Coach for the San Antonio Spurs from 1994-96. Cowens then became Head Coach for the Charlotte Hornets from 1996-99, where he helped improve the teams win total by 13 games in his first year. Throughout his time spent with the Hornets, Cowens led the team to back-to-back 50-plus win seasons and finished second to Pat Riley in the NBA Coach of the Year balloting after the 1996-97 season. He later spent time as Head Coach of the Golden State Warriors from 1999-2001. During his coaching career he compiled a 153-176 record. .

A native of Kentucky, Cowens attended Newport Central Catholic High School, in Newport, KY. He only played two seasons of basketball during his high school career, but still received attention from Division 1 colleges. Florida State University�s head coach at the time, Hugh Durham, was impressed with Cowens because he was such a strong rebounder, something that the team desperately needed. Cowens attended FSU and while he was there from 1966-70, he scored 1,479 career points in 78 games, an average of 19 points a game, and ranks among the top 10 of Florida State�s all time leading scorers. He is the all-time leading rebounder at FSU with 1,340 rebounds, an average of 17.2 a game. His single game record of 31 total rebounds in the 1968-69 NCAA season against LSU, still stands as a single game record for the Seminoles. He was named to the NCAA All-American team his senior year at FSU.

Cowens and his wife Deby are the parents of two daughters, one of whom is currently playing basketball at the Division 3 level. Cowens is still active in the Retired Players� Association and makes many appearances on its behalf. He loves living in Chicago and can be seen many days walking to work.