Many of the NBA's greatest coaches began their association with the game as players. Several current or recent examples include Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, Don Nelson and Jerry Sloan. Here is a player profile of another former NBA player-turned-coach, Celtics coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers.

Glenn "Doc" Riverswas born on October 13, 1961 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Proviso East High School in nearby Maywood, Illinois, then went to Marquette University (the alma mater of current NBA star Dwayne Wade). Rivers was named MVP of the 1982 FIBA World Championships during his college days, and after graduating, Rivers was taken in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft (31st overall) by the Atlanta Hawks.

Rivers moved into the starting lineup as a rookie after injuries occured to regular Hawks PG Eddie Johnson, and had a solid rookie year with averages of 9.3 PPG and 3.9 APG. Rivers steadily improved as the young Hawks emerged as a team to be reckoned with in the mid to late 80s, and had his best stats year in 1987-88, with averages of 14.2 PPG, 9.3 APG and 4.6 RPG (the rebounds were career bests), earning his only All-Star selection that season. Despite this, the Hawks never advanced beyond the second round in any of his seasons there.

Rivers left the Hawks after the 1990-91 season (after a career high 15.2 PPG) to sign up with the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers made the playoffs for the first time since 1976 in his lone season there, before he departed again for the New York Knicks. He provided an emotional spark for the Knicks as they finished tied for the best mark in team history with a 60-22 record, but the Knicks lost in round three to Chicago, and Rivers missed most of the 1993-94 season with injury as the Knicks advanced to the Finals. Rivers' final stop was San Antonio (in a trade), where he played solidly as a reserve before retiring after the 1995-96 season. Transitioning to coaching, Rivers was hired by the Orlando Magic before the 1999-2000 season, leading the Magic to a surprising 41-41 mark in his first season, winning Coach of the Year honors. After leading Orlando to three playoff berths, Rivers was fired early in the 2003-04 season. The following year, he was hired by the Boston Celtics, where after a rought start, Rivers led the Celtics to their first title since 1986 this past season. Indeed, Doc Rivers represents the old saying that "persistence pays off".

Season-by-Season Statistical Review:
1983-84: 81 GP, 47 GS, 9.3 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 3.9 APG, 46.2 FG%, 78.5 FT%, 16.7 3P%
1984-85: 69 GP, 58 GS, 14.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 5.9 APG, 47.6 FG%, 77.0 FT%, 41.7 3P%
1985-86: 53 GP, 50 GS, 11.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 8.4 APG, 47.4 FG%, 60.8 FT%, 0 3P
1986-87: 82 GP, 82 GS, 12.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 10.0 APG, 45.1 FG%, 82.8 FT%, 19.0 3P%
1987-88: 80 GP, 80 GS, 14.2 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 9.3 APG, 45.3 FG%, 75.8 FT%, 27.3 3P%
1988-89: 76 GP, 76 GS, 13.6 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 6.9 APG, 45.5 FG%, 86.1 FT%, 34.7 3P%
1989-90: 48 GP, 44 GS, 12.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 5.5 APG, 45.4 FG%, 81.2 FT%, 36.4 3P%
1990-91: 79 GP, 79 GS, 15.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.3 APG, 43.5 FG%, 84.4 FT%, 33.6 3P%
1991-92: 59 GP, 25 GS, 10.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.9 APG, 42.4 FG%, 83.2 FT%, 28.3 3P%
1992-93: 77 GP, 45 GS, 7.8 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, 43.7 FG%, 82.1 FT%, 31.7 3P%
1993-94: 19 GP, 19 GS, 7.5 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 5.3 APG, 43.3 FG%, 63.6 FT%, 36.5 3P%
1994-95: 63 GP, 0 GS, 5.1 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 35.8 FG%, 73.2 FT%, 35.4 3P%
1995-96: 78 GP, 0 GS, 4.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.2 FG%, 75.0 FT%, 34.3 3P%