Jim O'Brien (basketball)

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This article is about the professional basketball coach. For the college basketball coach Jim O'Brien (college basketball).

Jim O'Brien (born February 11, 1952 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is best known as a professional basketball coach. He was most recently the head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, where he served in that role for the 2004-05 NBA season before being fired despite the fact they made the playoffs after a year of absence.

Before that he was the head coach of the Boston Celtics from 2001-2004, replacing Rick Pitino. Coaching the 76ers was something of a homecoming for O'Brien, who is a Philadelphia native and attended Roman Catholic High School in his youth.

He was also head coach at Wheeling Jesuit University from 1982–87 and the University of Dayton from 1989–1994, leading the Dayton Flyers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in his first season.

He is the son-in-law of Hall of Fame coach Dr. Jack Ramsay, and was coached at Saint Joseph's by another former NBA coach, Jack McKinney.

Preceded by
Don Donoher
Dayton Flyers Head Coach
1989–1994
Succeeded by
Oliver Purnell
Preceded by
Rick Pitino
Boston Celtics Head Coach
2001–2004
Succeeded by
John Carroll
Preceded by
Chris Ford
Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach
2004–2005
Succeeded by
Maurice Cheeks


O'Malley • Solimano • Mahrt • McCray • Mahrt • Solimano • Thiele • Sherry • Hill • Baujan • Fitzgerald • Belanich • Tschudi • Holsinger • Carter • BlackburnDonoherO'BrienPurnell • Gregory

RussellJulianAuerbachRussellHeinsohnSandersCowensFitchJonesRodgersFordCarrPitinoO'BrienCarrollRivers

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