Rolland Todd

Rolland Douglas Todd[1] (born April 26, 1934) is a former player and coach in the National Basketball Association, and a former player in the American Basketball League, who also coached basketball at University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He was the first coach of the then-expansion Portland Trail Blazers, leading the team to a 29–53 record in its inaugural season (best of the three expansion clubs who entered the NBA that year); though was let go the next season when the team failed to improve. According to Sports Illustrated his nickname while coaching the Blazers was "Mod Todd".

Rolland Todd
Personal information
Born (1934-06-26) June 26, 1934
Tulare County, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
High schoolStrathmore (Strathmore, California)
College
Playing career1958–1962
PositionGuard
Coaching career1964–1982
Career history
As player:
1958–1960Buchan Bakers
1960Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
1960–1962San Francisco Saints / Oakland Oaks
As coach:
1964–1965Cal State LA (assistant)
1965–1970UNLV
1970–1972Portland Trail Blazers
1975–1982Santa Ana College

Early life

Todd grew up in Strathmore, California, the oldest of four children. He attended Fresno State College where he “was a star 6-4 guard at Fresno State in the mid-1950s, leading the Bulldogs to a 19-8 record and the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship as a senior in 1957-58.” His roommate and teammate for three years was Jerry Tarkanian. He attended graduate school at the University of Washington.[2]

After graduating from Fresno State, Todd played for the Seattle, Washington based Buchan Bakers of the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL) from 1958 to 1960.[3][4][5] He briefly joined the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots in 1960 during their unsuccessful attempt to qualify as the team to represent the United States during the 1960 Summer Olympics.[6]

Todd signed with the St. Louis Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in June 1960, but was placed on waivers before the start of the regular season.[7][8] Todd reportedly signed with the Washington Tapers of the American Basketball League (ABL) in October 1961, but never joined the team and took a teaching job in Seattle, Washington.[9] In December 1961, Todd signed with the San Francisco Saints of the ABL.[10] On October 26, 1962, Todd signed with the Oakland Oaks of the ABL.[11]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1960–61 San Francisco Saints 53—25.1.380.256.7524.13.7——8.2
1961–62 Oakland Oaks 24—30.5.409.292.8375.63.1——14.4
Career 77—26.8.392.270.7874.53.5——10.1

Source:[12][13]

References
  1. "Rolland Douglas Todd was born on April 26, 1934 in Tulare County, California". californiabirthindex.org. California Birth Index. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. Eggers, Kenny (May 11, 2017). "TRAIL BLAZERS' ROLLAND TODD: FIRST COACH, LASTING MEMORIES". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  3. "Former FSC Cager Is Making Good". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. 21 December 1958. p. 31. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. "Cage stars abound". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. 19 November 1959. p. 14. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  5. "Buchan Bakers Advance". Spokane Chronicle. Spokane, Washington. 23 March 1960. p. 1. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  6. "Big O, NAIA Stars Shine In Olympic Trials". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. Associated Press. 1 April 1960. p. 22. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  7. Thies, Bud (12 June 1960). "Hawks Set Up Playground Clinic Dates". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 39. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  8. "Hawks Launch Play Vs. Lakers". The News and Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Associated Press. 22 October 1960. p. 12. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  9. "Rolland Todd Inks as Pro". Tulare Advance-Register. Tulare, California. October 10, 1961. p. 7. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  10. "Rolland Todd Signs With SF Saints". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. Associated Press. 16 December 1961. p. 14. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  11. "Oaks Sign Rolland Todd". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. 26 October 1962. p. 50. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  12. "1961-62 San Francisco Saints Statistics". statscrew.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  13. "1962-63 Oakland Oaks Statistics". statscrew.com. Retrieved 17 March 2021.


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