Rolland Todd Explained

Rolland Todd
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Birth Date:26 June 1934
Birth Place:Tulare County, California, U.S.
Nationality:American
High School:Strathmore (Strathmore, California)
College:
Career Start:1958
Career End:1962
Career Position:Guard
Coach Start:1964
Coach End:1982
Years1:1958–1960
Team1:Buchan Bakers
Years2:1960
Team2:Akron Goodyear Wingfoots
Years3:1960–1962
Team3:San Francisco Saints / Oakland Oaks
Cyears1:1964–1965
Cteam1:Cal State LA (assistant)
Cyears2:1965–1970
Cteam2:UNLV
Cyears3:1970–1972
Cteam3:Portland Trail Blazers
Cyears4:1975–1982
Cteam4:Santa Ana College

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".

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

|-| align="left" | 1960–61| align="left" | San Francisco Saints|| 53 || — || 25.1 || .380 || .256 || .752 || 4.1 || 3.7 || — || — || 8.2 |-| align="left" | 1961–62| align="left" | Oakland Oaks|| 24 || — || 30.5 || .409 || .292 || .837 || 5.6 || 3.1 || — || — || 14.4 |- class="sortbottom"| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career| 77 || — || 26.8 || .392 || .270 || .787 || 4.5 || 3.5 || — || — || 10.1Source:[12] [13]

External links

Notes and References

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