Vinny Del Negro

Infobox NBAretired


size=
caption=
position= Guard
number= 8, 15
height_ft = 6
height_in = 4
weight_lbs = 185
birthdate= birth date and age|1966|08|09
Springfield, Massachusetts
deathdate=
debutyear= 1988
finalyear= 2002
draftyear= 1988
draftround= 2
draftpick= 4
draftteam= Sacramento Kings
college= North Carolina State
teams=
*Sacramento Kings (1989-1990)
*Benetton Treviso (1990-1992)
*San Antonio Spurs (1992-1998)
*Teamsystem Bologna (1999)
*Milwaukee Bucks (1999-2000)
*Golden State Warriors (2000-2001)
*Phoenix Suns (2001)
stat1label= Points
stat1value= 7,038
stat2label= Rebounds
stat2value= 1,810
stat3label= Assists
stat3value= 2,484
letter=d
bbr=delnevi01
highlights=
* None
HOF=
coach=
*Chicago Bulls (2008–present)

Vincent "Vinny" Joseph Del Negro (born August 9, 1966 in Springfield, Massachusetts) is a retired American basketball player and current head coach of the NBA's Chicago Bulls. [cite web|title = Bulls hire Del Negro as new head coach | date = 2008-06-09 | accessdate 2008-06-09 | url = http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-080609-chicago-bulls-vinny-del-negro,1,1239418.story] His father, Vince, played basketball at the University of Kentucky under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. [ [http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Del_Negro_Vincent.html UK career statistics ] ]

Del Negro played for Jim Valvano at North Carolina State University. As a senior, he was selected to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team after averaging 15.9 points, 3.6 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game. That same senior season, Del Negro led the Wolfpack to the 1987 ACC Tournament championship and was named tournament MVP.

Del Negro was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 29th pick in the 1988 NBA Draft. He would play two seasons there before leaving for Italy and Benetton Treviso for another 2 years (he won the Italian championship in 1992 with over 25 points per game).

Upon his return to the NBA, Del Negro played for the San Antonio Spurs for the next 6 years. In early 1999 he played 4 games in Italy for Teamsystem Bologna, before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he played in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons. Del Negro was traded to the Golden State Warriors in a three-team deal that also involved the Cleveland Cavaliers in June 2000. In January 2001 he was traded to the Phoenix Suns, and was also traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal with the Orlando Magic in November, although he would never play for them, and subsequently retired.

Del Negro's career statistics included 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 84.0% from the free-throw line.

Del Negro worked as a radio commentator for the Phoenix Suns before being promoted to director of player personnel for the Suns in 2006. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/transactions?date=20060707 ESPN - NBA Basketball transactions ] ] In 2007, the Suns promoted him to the position of assistant general manager. [cite web|title = Suns promote Del Negro to assistant GM | date = 2007-08-28 | accessdate = 2007-09-04 | url = http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AhBevR04t5FrO4n8h6UTRqXTjdIF?slug=txsunsdelnegro&prov=st&type=lgns | publisher = Yahoo Sports ]

On June 9, 2008, multiple media reports indicated Del Negro had agreed to become the new head coach of the Chicago Bulls, making it his first coaching assignment. He became the favorite for the job after former Bulls' coach Doug Collins pulled his name from consideration. [cite web|title = Bulls hire Del Negro as new head coach | date = 2008-06-09 | accessdate 2008-06-09 | url = http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-080609-chicago-bulls-vinny-del-negro,1,1239418.story]

Two days later, Del Negro was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Bulls, replacing Jim Boylan and being the 17th head coach in Bulls' history.

References

External links

* [http://www.nba.com/playerfile/vinny_del_negro/index.html?nav=page NBA.com profile]
* [http://www.basketballreference.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DELNEVI01 Stats at basketballreference.com]