Tomjanovich steps down as Rockets' coach

Tomjanovich steps down as Rockets' coach
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By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
Associated Press Writer
HOUSTON (AP) -- Rudy Tomjanovich stepped down as coach to take another job with the Houston Rockets on Friday after 12 seasons that included the franchise's only two NBA championships.
Tomjanovich, who had cut his season short for treatment of bladder cancer, said he looked forward to resuming a more normal lifestyle.
"Just to be one of the people in this city, being a soldier instead of a general for awhile, I look forward to that," Tomjanovich said, choking back tears as he announced his decision.
"I just think at this stage, with the health situation, that the best thing is to back off and try to be just a regular guy for a while."
Tomjanovich, appearing at a news conference with longtime friend and general manager Carroll Dawson, confirmed news reports about his negotiations with owner Les Alexander to take another position despite having two years and $12 million remaining on his contract.
"This is a very difficult day for the entire Rockets organization," Alexander said in a statement. "I know this was a hard decision for Rudy, but I respect it. Rudy is a great championship coach. While I am saddened to see him move from the sideline, I look forward to working with him to make this a championship team again."
Tomjanovich led the Rockets to the NBA title in 1994 and 1995 but the team hadn't made the playoffs the past four seasons.
Dawson said Tomjanovich would help the Rockets in scouting and evaluation.
"Rudy is still going to be with us, that's what makes this easier than it normally would," Dawson said. "We've been blessed to have him for 33 years and he's still going to be here."
"I'm always going to be a Rocket," Tomjanovich said.
"We are very blessed to have as capable a guy in this game as I know," Dawson said. "I am sure one day he will be in the Hall of Fame."
Tomjanovich, 54, took over as the Rockets' coach midway into the 1991-92 season and compiled a 503-397 record, easily becoming the winningest of the team's nine coaches. The Rockets' championships were the city's first titles in a major sports league.
Only Utah's Jerry Sloan, who just completed his 15th season, had a longer tenure among active coaches than Tomjanovich.
"I am going to work with everybody in the front office to go and try to help add some pieces to what we already have and get the Houston Rockets back on top," said Tomjanovich, who has concluded cancer treatments and will undergo a biopsy next month to see if the tumor is gone. "It is a good situation."
The Rockets made Tomjanovich the second overall selection in the 1970 draft out of Michigan. He started the franchise's first game in Houston on Oct. 14, 1971, after the Rockets moved from San Diego.
"Rudy T," as he is called, quickly became one of the team's most popular players and had 13,383 points and 6,198 rebounds in his 11-year playing career, averaging 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds in 768 games. He last played in 1981 and the team retired his jersey the following year.
Tomjanovich also survived one of the scariest moments in NBA history on Dec. 9, 1977, when Los Angeles Lakers forward Kermit Washington blindsided him with a powerful punch that sent him crashing to the floor with shattered facial bones. Doctors later said the injuries were life-threatening, but Tomjanovich returned the following season wearing a protective mask and made one of his five appearances in the NBA All-Star game.
Tomjanovich has spent all 33 years since leaving Michigan -- which also retired his jersey this year -- with the Rockets as a player, scout or coach.
This season, news of cancer on the surface of his bladder forced Tomjanovich to miss the final 17 games of a disappointing season in which Houston finished 43-39 despite having two All-Star starters, guard Steve Francis and 7-foot-6 rookie Yao Ming.
His current contract, agreed to in 2000, was set to keep him coaching until 2005.