What Happened to Rodney Strickland?
Rodney "Rod" Strickland is a former NBA All-Star point guard who played 17 seasons in the league before transitioning into a successful coaching career. He is currently the head coach for the Long Island University (LIU) men's basketball team, leading them to the NCAA Tournament in March 2026 and earning the 2026 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year award.
Quick Answer
Rod Strickland, a former NBA point guard known for his prolific assisting and scoring, is currently the head coach of the Long Island University (LIU) men's basketball team. After a distinguished playing career from 1988 to 2005, he moved into coaching and administrative roles at various universities and with the NBA G League. In March 2026, Strickland led LIU to the NCAA Tournament, marking a significant achievement for the program and earning him the Northeast Conference Coach of the Year honor.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Born in The Bronx, New York
Rodney Strickland was born in The Bronx, New York.
Starts College Career at DePaul University
Strickland began his collegiate basketball career at DePaul University, where he became a two-time All-American.
Drafted by New York Knicks
Selected 19th overall in the first round of the 1988 NBA Draft by his hometown New York Knicks.
Named to NBA All-Rookie Second Team
Recognized for his strong debut season, Strickland was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
Traded to Washington Bullets/Wizards
Strickland was traded to the Washington Bullets (later Wizards), where he would have some of his most productive seasons.
NBA Assists Leader & All-NBA Second Team
Had a career-best season, leading the NBA in assists with 10.5 per game and earning a selection to the All-NBA Second Team.
Retires from NBA
Concluded his 17-year NBA playing career, having amassed over 14,000 points and nearly 8,000 assists.
Inducted into DePaul Athletic Hall of Fame
Honored by his alma mater for his outstanding collegiate career.
Inducted into NYC Basketball Hall of Fame
Recognized for his contributions to basketball in his home city.
Joins Kentucky Coaching Staff
Became a special assistant to head coach John Calipari at the University of Kentucky, contributing to a national championship.
Becomes NBA G League Professional Path Program Manager
Took on a role focused on developing young players for professional basketball in the NBA G League.
Named Head Coach at Long Island University
Accepted the head coaching position for the LIU men's basketball program, marking his first head coaching role.
Named NEC Coach of the Year and Ben Jobe Award Finalist
Recognized for turning around the LIU program, earning conference coach of the year honors and a national award nomination.
Leads LIU to NCAA Tournament
Coached LIU to the Northeast Conference Tournament title, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament for the first time in eight years.
LIU Competes in NCAA Tournament
As of the current date, Rod Strickland is leading the LIU Sharks in their NCAA Tournament appearance, facing Arizona in the first round.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Rodney 'Rod' Strickland, born July 11, 1966, carved out a notable career first as a dynamic NBA point guard and later as a respected collegiate basketball coach. After a standout college career at DePaul University, where he was a two-time All-American, Strickland was drafted 19th overall by the New York Knicks in the 1988 NBA Draft.
His 17-year NBA playing career, spanning from 1988 to 2005, saw him play for ten different teams, including the New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Bullets/Wizards. Strickland was renowned for his exceptional passing and ball-handling skills, leading the NBA in assists in the 1997-98 season with 10.5 assists per game, a year in which he also earned All-NBA Second Team honors. He is one of only 25 players in NBA history to achieve 10,000 career points and 5,000 assists, finishing his career with 14,463 points and 7,987 assists.
Following his retirement as a player in 2005, Strickland transitioned to coaching and administrative roles in college basketball. He served as the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Memphis (2006-2009) and as a special assistant to head coach John Calipari at the University of Kentucky (2009-2014), where he was part of the staff that won the 2012 NCAA National Championship. He then became an assistant coach for the South Florida Bulls from 2014 to 2017.
A key turning point in his post-playing career came when he joined the NBA G League as the program manager for its professional path from 2018 to 2022, focusing on developing young talent. This experience prepared him for his current head coaching role. On June 30, 2022, Strickland was named the head coach of the Long Island University (LIU) men's basketball program.
Under Strickland's leadership, the LIU Sharks have shown significant improvement. After a challenging first season with a 3-26 record in 2022-23, the team progressed to 7-22 in 2023-24 and 17-16 in 2024-25. The 2025-26 season has been particularly successful, with LIU achieving a 24-10 overall record, winning the Northeast Conference (NEC) regular season title with a 15-3 conference mark, and securing the NEC Tournament championship. As a result, Strickland was named the 2026 Northeast Conference Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award, which recognizes the top minority head coach in Division I college basketball. As of March 19, 2026, Strickland is leading the LIU Sharks in their first NCAA Tournament appearance in eight years, facing Arizona in the first round.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Rodney Strickland made different choices?