Phil Jackson

Philip Douglas Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) was the head coach of the NBA Chicago Bulls from 1989 to 1998, and of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1999 to 2004. Jackson has a total of 11 NBA championship rings: two as a player with the New York Knicks, six as coach of the Bulls, and three as coach of the Lakers. His nine NBA championships as a head coach ties him with Red Auerbach for the all-time lead in that category. He is well known for his approach to coaching, which is influenced by Eastern philosophy, notably Zen.

On June 18, 2004, three days after suffering his first ever loss in an NBA finals series against the Detroit Pistons, Jackson announced that he would leave his position with the Lakers.