Who is Brad Stevens?

Famous American basketball executive and former coach Bradley Kent Stevens, was born in Zionsville, Indiana USA on 22 October 1976, making Libra his zodiac sign. He’s probably known best for the time which he spent coaching the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA), leading them to playoffs every year from 2014 through 2021, while they competed in the Eastern Conference Finals thrice from 2017 through 2020; Brad’s widely considered as one of the best basketball coaches of all time, and has since 2021 been working as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations.

Education and early life

Brad was raised in Zionsville by his mother Jan who’s a university professor and once taught at Butler, and father Mark who’s an orthopedic surgeon, and who played football at Indiana University, Bloomington. Brad’s believed to be an only child, having not spoken of any siblings.

He fell in love with playing basketball at the age of five, and often watched the Indiana Hoosiers games together with his father. He was eight when his parents gifted him a basketball hoop, and Brad then spent most of his spare time playing basketball together with his friends. He studied at Zionsville Community High School and was the best basketball player there, joining its varsity team during his freshman year. By the time he matriculated in 1995, Brad held records for three-point field goals, steals, assists and career scoring, amongst others, while he still today holds five records.

He then enrolled at DePauw University on a basketball scholarship, and played in 101 basketball games with their team; Brad graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in economics in 1999.

Career as a coach

Brad began working at the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company upon graduation, but in the summer of 2000 was convinced by his wife to quit his job and volunteer with the Butler Bulldogs basketball team; he was then offered work as the Bulldogs’ co-ordinator of basketball operations, and was promoted to full-time assistant coach in 2001, after the Bulldogs welcomed their new head coach Todd Lickliter. He then became active in every aspect of the Bulldogs’ play, including in-game coaching, skills instruction and recruiting.

Todd resigned on 2 April 2007, and Brad became the Bulldogs’ new head coach a day later; he was the Division I Basketball’s second youngest coach, but led his team to win their first eight games, prior to losing 43-42 to Wright State. The Bulldogs went on to win 12 of their 13 games, while Brad was praised by both other head coaches and critics. He ended the 2007-2008 season with 27 wins and three losses, while they also won the Horizon League, but lost in the 2008 NCAA Tournament; Brad then signed a seven-year contract with the Bulldogs.

He won 12 of his first 13 games in the 2008-2009 season, again winning the Horizon League; they reached the NCAA Tournament in 2010, and then the Final Four where they defeated the Michigan State in the national semi-finals, but then lost to the Duke Blue Devils. They won the 2011 Horizon League Tournament, reaching the NCAA Tournament Finals once again, but losing to the Connecticut Huskies.

Brad signed a new contract with the Bulldogs on 8 April 2010, which was to keep him with the team until the year 2022; he was offered a contract by the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2012, and the University of California, Los Angeles’ Bruins in the following year, but Brad rejected both.

NBA

Brad became the new head coach of the Boston Celtics on 3 July 2013, and led them to the playoffs in 2015, and again to the playoffs in the following year.

His contract was extended on 1 June 2016, and he and the Celtics reached the playoffs again in 2017, playing in the Eastern Conference Finals but losing to Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2017-2018 season, the Celtics won 55 of their 82 games, reaching the playoffs but losing in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Cavaliers.

Quitting coaching

Brad coached the Celtics until 2 June 2021, when he replaced Danny Ainge as their president of basketball operations; he hired Ime Udoka as the Celtics’ head coach on 23 June 2021, and they went on reach the 2022 NBA Finals, losing to the Golden State Warriors.

On 16 February 2023, Brad replaced Ime with Joe Mazzulla.

Love life and wife

Brad prefers not to speak about his love life in public, but has allowed his fans to have a glimpse into it. He and Tracy (nee Wilhelmy) met while they were both attending DePauw University; she was also an athlete, playing soccer for the university, and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1999. Tracy graduated with a Master’s degree in law in 2002, and she and Brad married in August 2003; she’s today working as an employment and labor attorney, and is also Brad’s agent.

Tracy’s mother died from cancer in June 2004, and she and Brad then became involved with the charity organization Coaches Vs. Cancer.

Tracy gave birth to their son Brady Stevens in 2007, and to their daughter Kinsley Stevens in 2010.

Brad hasn’t mentioned the girls whom he had perhaps dated before he met Tracy, he’s married to Tracy Stevens as of April 2023, and they have two children together.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Brad’s active on Instagram, and has posted 43 pictures onto the social media network, however, he’s only followed by 165 people.

He’s been to every US state, mostly thanks to his career as a basketball coach, while he’s also vacationed in several European countries together with his wife Tracy; Brad’s favorite city to travel to is Miami, Florida.

He’s a lover of animals, and his favorite are turtles and dogs.

Brad’s a fan of rock ‘n’ roll bands AC/DC and Aerosmith.

His favorite actress is Scarlett Johansson, and some of his favorite movies include “Ghost in the Shell”, “Don Jon” and “Lost in Translation”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Brad’s age is 46. His hair and eyes are brown, he’s 6ft 1in (1.85m) tall and weighs around 180lbs (82kgs).

Brad’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of April 2023.

Who is Bob Knight?

American former basketball coach Robert Montgomery ‘Bob’ Knight was born in Orrville, Ohio USA, on 25 October 1940, meaning that Scorpio’s his zodiac sign. Known as ‘The General’, Bob set the record when he retired with 902 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I basketball game wins, while he today holds fifth place; he’s perhaps best known for coaching the Indiana Hoosiers of the NCAA Division I from 1971 through 2000, and also for coaching at Texas Tech from 2001 through 2008.

Education and early life

Bob was raised in Orrville by his mother and father, about whom he’s shared not so many details because Bob respects their privacy; it’s believed that his father was a basketball coach at a local high school, and his mother a housewife. Because Bob’s yet to speak of having siblings, he’s widely believed to be an only child.

He became interested in playing basketball while attending Orrville High School, and was amongst the best players there; Bob was into several other activities as a teenager, including playing football, and acting with the school’s drama club.

He matriculated in 1958, and then enrolled at Ohio State University, where he played under coach Fred Taylor, who was later inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame; he played for the Ohio Buckeyes as a reserve forward, winning the 1960 NCAA Championship, while they lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats both times in the following two NCAA Championships.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in government and history in 1962.

Bob’s career

Upon graduation, Bob began working at Cuyahoga Falls High School as a junior varsity basketball coach, but in the following year joined the US Army, and was on active duty for two years starting in June 1963, and then in the Army Reserve for four years.

Not long after joining the army, in the second half of 1963, Bob became the head coach of the Army Black Knights; he won 102 games with them, and became known for his ‘explosive temper’.

He joined Indiana University as head coach of their basketball team the Hoosiers in 1971, and won 662 games during the 22 seasons that he spent with them. In the 1972-1973 season, Bob led the Hoosiers to win the Big Ten Championship, and they lost to the University of California, Los Angeles’ Bruins in the Final Four; they won the Big Ten Championship again in the following season, while the seasons 1974-1975 and 1975-1976 saw them win all of their games, making them Big Ten champions two more times. What marked the end of the ‘70s for the Hoosiers was winning the 1979 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

Bob and the Hoosiers won the 1981 NCAA tournament, and the 1986 book “A Season on the Brink” by John Feinstein covered Bob and his basketball team. They went on to win the NCAA tournament again in 1987, and a Big Ten Championship in the 1988-1989 season.

The Hoosiers continued to play well in the beginning of the ‘90s, winning the Big Ten Championship in both the 1990-1991 and 1992-1993 seasons, and they competed in the NCAA championship nearly every year for the remainder of the decade.

The sports show “CNN Sports Illustrated” aired an episode on 14 March 2000, in which they covered American film director and producer Robert Abbott’s investigation of Bob choking his former player Burgess Neil Reed in 1997; although Bob denied this, a tape of the practice game was shown, and Bob could indeed have been seen choking Burgess in it. Because of this and similar other incidents related to Bob’s behavior, he was fired from his coaching position on 10 September 2000; the students protested, and thousands of them marched in the streets. Various magazines covered Bob’s firing, including “Sports Illustrated”.

He took the year 2001 off, and in 2002 became the head coach at Texas Tech, leading their Red Raiders to three NCAA Championship appearances and one NIT in his first four years there, even though the Red Raiders hadn’t reached an NCAA Championship since 1996. Bob’s best performance with the Red Raiders was reaching the Sweet Sixteen in 2005.

He revealed that he was retiring on 4 February 2008, and his son Pat Knight became the new head coach of the Red Raiders.

Life after basketball

Bob became a studio analyst for ESPN in 2008, and stayed with them until 2 April 2015, when his contract expired and wasn’t renewed.

It was revealed on 27 February 2019 that Bob had health issues, and while giving a speech on 4 April 2019, Bob showed significant problems with his memory; he’s since been leading a peaceful life with his wife at their home in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Love life and relationships

Bob and his first wife, non-celebrity American Nancy Falk exchanged vows on 17 April 1963, and she gave birth to their two sons Tim and Pat in the following a couple of years; Patrick Clair ‘Pat’ Knight’s today a successful basketball coach and scout.

Bob and his second wife Karen Vieth Edgar married in 1988; she’s a former high school basketball coach, and the two have been together to this day.

Bob hasn’t mentioned other women whom he’s maybe been with, he’s married to his second wife Karen Vieth Edgar as of April 2023, and has two sons with his first wife Nancy Falk.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Bob supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election, and referred to him as a ‘great defender of the USA’.

Various books besides “A Season on the Brink” have been published about Bob, including Juan Mellen’s “Bob Knight: His Own Man”, Robert P. Sulek’s “Hoosier Honor: Bob Knight and Academic Success at Indiana University” and Steve Alford’s “Playing for Knight: My Six Seasons with Bobby Knight”.

Bob’s made a guest appearance in many movies and TV series, including the 1994 sports movie “Blue Chips”, the 2002 sports film “A Season on the Brink” and the 2003 romantic comedy movie “Anger Management”.

He’s a philanthropist and has donated quite a lot of money to Indiana University, while he’s also raised close to $5 million for their library system.

Height, eyes and wealth

Bob’s age is 82. He has brown eyes and grey hair, is 6ft 4ins (1.96m) tall and weighs around 200lbs (92kgs).

Bob’s net worth’s been estimated at over $15 million, as of April 2023.

Who is Mr. T?

Famous American actor, professional boxer and former bodyguard Mr. T, was born Laurence Tureaud in Chicago, Illinois USA, on 21 May 1952, making Gemini his zodiac sign. He’s appeared in 53 movies and TV series, and is probably still known best for playing Clubber Lang in the critically acclaimed 1982 sports movie “Rocky III”, which Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed and starred in. The film also starred Talia Shire and Burt Young, follows the life of professional boxer Rocky, and won three of its 12 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Music, Original Song.

Education and early life

Mr. T was raised alongside his 11 older siblings (seven brothers and four sisters) in Chicago, by their father Nathaniel Tureaud who was a minister, and mother whose name remains undisclosed, but who was a housewife. Mr. T was five when Nathaniel abandoned the family, and he thus changed his name to Lawrence Teo in the same year; aged 18, he changed his name to Mr. T.

He was mostly into playing football, practicing martial arts and wrestling while attending Dunbar Vocational High School; he was his city’s wrestling champion two years in a row. Mr. T matriculated in 1970, and then enrolled at Prairie View A&M University on a football scholarship; he was focused on studying math, but was expelled after only a year.

Before acting

Mr. T began working as a gym instructor when he was 19, and in 1975 joined the US Army’s Military Police Corps; after he was discharged in 1978, he attempted to join the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) prior to becoming a nightclub bouncer. He’s revealed that he was involved in more than 200 fights while working as a bouncer, was sued numerous times, but won every case.

Mr. T then became a well-known bodyguard, working for wealthy people such as judges, businessmen and politicians; some of these included American singer and actress Diana Ross, the late professional boxer Muhammad Ali, and American actor and moviemaker Levardis Robert Martyn ‘LeVar’ Burton Jr.

He was also often offered to kill people, collect debts, find missing people and track runaway teenagers.

Mr. T’s since appeared in more than 100 commercials, for companies such as Forbes, Blizzard and Snickers.

Roles in movies

Mr. T’s acting career was launched when he was spotted by famous American actor and moviemaker Sylvester Stallone, while competing in the show “America’s Toughest Bouncer”; this was how he was cast to play Clubber Lang in the above mentioned movie “Rocky III”.

Some of Mr. T’s following roles were in the 1983 action comedy “D. C. Cab”, and in 1984 the comedy “The Toughest Man in the World” and the family drama “A Christmas Dream”. In 1987, he voiced Jabberwock in the animated family adventure “Alice Through the Looking Glass”, directed by Andrea Bresciani and Richard Slapczynski, and which starred Janet Waldo, Townsend Coleman and Phyllis Diller; it follows Alice who’s fallen through a mirror, and has found herself in Chessland. Mr. T could then have been seen appearing in the 1990 crime drama “Straight Line”, the 1992 sports video “Best of WrestleMania”, and the 1993 science fiction comedy “Freaked”.

His following notable performance was playing The Wise Janitor in the 2001 comedy “Not Another Teen Movie”, directed by Joel Gallen, and which starred Chyler Leigh, Jaime Pressly and Chris Evans. It’s a parody of various teenage movies, and the film was nominated for five awards.

Mr. T voiced Earl Devereaux in the critically acclaimed 2009 animated adventure comedy “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”, which won one of its 15 award nominations; this remains his most recent film role.

Roles in TV series

Mr. T’s debut TV series appearance was in a 1982 episode of the comedy “Saturday Night Live”, and he was then cast to play and voice characters in an episode of various series, such as the family comedy “Silver Spoons”, the animated adventure comedy “Alvin & the Chipmunks”, and the family comedy “Diff’rent Strokes”.

From 1983 through 1985, Mr. T starred in his own animated action “Mister T”, created by Martin Pasko and Steve Gerber, and which also starred Cathy Cavadini and Peter Cullen; it follows Mr. T and his gymnastics team as they’re fighting crime together, and the series was nominated for a 1986 Young Artist Award for Best Family Animation Series or Special.

He became famous for playing the lead character B. A. Baracus in the evergreen action crime adventure “The A-Team”, which also starred George Peppard and Dwight Schultz, and aired from 1983 through 1987. The series follows the lives of four Vietnam veterans who’ve been framed with a crime, and won three of its 11 award nominations.

From 1988 through 1990, Mr. T starred as T. S. Turner in the crime drama “T and T”, created by Michael Hirsch and Elia Katz, and which also starred David Nerman and Alexandra Amini; it follows the life of private detective and former boxer T. S. Turner, and the series was nominated for two awards. Mr. T had only a couple of roles in the ‘90s, playing or voicing characters in an episode or two of the family comedy “Blossom”, the animated adventure comedy “Eek! The Cat” (voice role) and the animated family comedy “Sabrina: The Animated Series” (voice role).

From 2001 through 2003, he voiced Bongo in the English version of the animated family drama “Pecola”, and the remainder of the decade heard him voice characters in an episode of the animated family comedies “House of Mouse”, “The Simpsons” and “Johnny Bravo”.

Mr. T’s most recent TV series role has been playing a supporting character in the 2014 episode “Gary’s Big Break?” of the comedy “The Comeback Kids”; even though inactive in the film industry for nearly 10 years now, Mr. T hasn’t officially retired.

Other credits

Mr. T voiced himself in the 2003 video game “Celebrity Deathmatch”.

He received special thanks for the 2008 action comedy thriller movie “War, Inc.”

Mr. T’s made a guest appearance in numerous talk-shows, most recently in “WGN Morning News”, “Hollywood Insider” and “Biography: WWE Legends”.

Awards and nominations

Mr. T won a 1984 People’s Choice Award for Favorite Male Performer in a New TV Program.

He’s been nominated for two other awards: a 1983 Razzie Award for Worst New Star for his performance in “Rocky III”, and a 2008 TV Land Award for Character You REALLY Don’t Want to Make Angry, for “The A-Team”.

Wrestling career

Mr. T became a professional wrestler in 1985, when he signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and was teamed up with famous American retired professional wrestler Terry Gene Bollea – aka Hulk Hogan.

He competed in World Class Championship Wrestling on 21 July 1989, but only returned to wrestling in 1994, when he defeated Kevin Sullivan.

Love life and relationships

Mr. T prefers to keep the details of his love life to himself, but it’s known that he and non-celebrity American Phyllis Clark exchanged vows in 1971, in front of their closest friends; Phyllis gave birth to their first daughter Lesa in the same year, and their second daughter Erica Clark followed in 1979. Erica’s a reality TV personality, and has made a guest appearance in talk-shows “Hart of the City” and “Jay Davis Presents: Creative Hustle”.

The date of Mr. T and Phyllis’ divorce remains undisclosed; he has a son Lawrence ‘TJ’ Junior who was a born in 1986, but it remains unknown whether or not TJ is Phyllis’ son.

Mr. T hasn’t mentioned other women whom he’s dated, he seems to be unattached as of April 2023, was once married to Phyllis Clark, and has three children.

Interesting facts and hobbies

Mr. T cut over a hundred oak trees on his property in Lake Forest, Illinois in 1987, and the event was described as ‘The Lake Forest Chain Saw Massacre’ by a local newspaper.

He was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma in 1995, and has written about his fight against cancer in his yet-to-be-published book “Cancer Saved My Life (Cancer Ain’t For No Wimps)”.

Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mr. T stopped wearing all of his gold, stating that it would be disrespectful to people who had lost everything in the hurricane.

He’s uploaded 60 pictures and videos onto his Instagram account, and close to 50,000 people are following him on the social media network.

Mr. T’s a huge fan of the late actor Leslie Nielsen, and some of his favorite movies include “Airplane!”, “The Naked Truth” and “Wrongfully Accused”.

Height, eyes and wealth

Mr. T’s age is 71. His eyes are brown, he has a black mohawk haircut, he’s 5ft 10ins (1.79m) tall and weighs around 185lbs (84kgs).

Mr. T’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of April 2023.