A 17-year veteran of the NBA as both a player and coach, Marc Iavaroni was hired as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies on May 31, 2007. For Iavaroni, it marks his first head coaching position in the league.

Prior to joining the Grizzlies Iavaroni spent the previous five seasons with the Phoenix Suns, during which time they made four trips to the NBA Playoffs, including two appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Over the course of the five seasons Iavaroni spent with the Suns, the team compiled an impressive regular season record of 250-160 (.610).

Previously, Iavaroni served as assistant coach/director of player development under Miami Heat President/Head Coach Pat Riley from 1999-2002. Iavaroni’s responsibilities consisted of all general duties of an assistant coach plus the direct responsibility of developing Heat players year round. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers under former Grizzlies Head Coach Mike Fratello for two seasons (1997-99), concentrating his efforts on the development of the team’s frontcourt players.

Last year Iavaroni assisted the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team in training camp as they prepared for the 2006 FIBA Men’s World Championships in Japan. He owes much of his teaching expertise to his 22-year association as a student and instructor under Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell.

In seven seasons as a player in the NBA from 1982-1989, Iavaroni played for Philadelphia, San Antonio and Utah. He was a starter as a rookie on the 76ers’ 1983 World Championship team, voted one of the 10 best NBA teams of all-time. Iavaroni’s teams qualified for the playoffs every season of his career.

Iavaroni concluded his professional career alongside current Suns Head Coach Mike D’Antoni in Milan, Italy before retiring in 1991. Iavaroni played professionally overseas for five seasons in Italy and Spain, including three seasons after his college career and two seasons following his NBA career.

His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of Virginia, helping the Cavaliers to their first Final Four appearance in 1981. Following his professional playing career, Iavaroni was an assistant coach at Bowling Green State for two seasons from 1992-94 under Jim Larranaga, who led George Mason to the 2006 Final Four.

As a collegian, Iavaroni was a four-year starter and finished in 1978 ranked in Virginia’s top 10 in career scoring and rebounding. He gained first team All-Tournament honors on Virginia’s 1976 ACC Tournament championship team, an accomplishment he still considers among his most satisfying playing achievements.

Born in Jamaica, N.Y., Iavaroni and his wife Caroline have three sons, Kenton, 19, McCray, 17, and Jackson, 15.