Reggie Theus
A slick-shooting NBA All-Star known as 'Rushmore' who later became a respected coach mentoring players at every level of the game.
Born 1957 (age 69)·American basketball player and coach·Birthday: October 13·Baby Boomers
Biography
Reggie Theus entered the NBA with a flair that seemed destined for Hollywood. Standing 6'7" with a model's looks and a smooth, high-scoring game, he was a star attraction for the Chicago Bulls in the late 1970s and early '80s, earning two All-Star selections. His nickname, 'Rushmore,' hinted at both his chiseled features and his prominent role on the team. After a 13-year career that saw him put up over 19,000 points, he seamlessly transitioned to acting, most memorably as the charming coach Bill Fuller on the sitcom 'Hang Time.' But the pull of the real hardwood was too strong. Theus embarked on a coaching odyssey that showcased his patience and developmental skill, taking over a struggling program at New Mexico State and leading them to the NCAA tournament in his second year. His journey included a stint as head coach of the Sacramento Kings and assistant roles under mentors like Rick Pitino, before settling into leadership at historically Black colleges and universities, aiming to shape athletes beyond their sport.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Reggie was born in 1957, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Reggie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1957
#1 Movie
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Best Picture
The Bridge on the River Kwai
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Reggie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1957Born
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1962Started school
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1970Became a teenager
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1973Could drive
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1975Could vote
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1978Turned 21
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1987Turned 30
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 40
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 50
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 60
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 69 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an NBA All-Star twice (1981, 1983) during his tenure with the Chicago Bulls.
- Scored 19,015 total points over a 13-season career in the NBA.
- Led New Mexico State University to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 as head coach, their first appearance since 1999.
- Served as head coach for the NBA's Sacramento Kings during the 2007-08 season.
Did You Know?
He played the role of Coach Bill Fuller on the NBC television series 'Hang Time' for several seasons.
He was drafted ninth overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1978 NBA Draft.
He served as the head coach and athletic director at Bethune-Cookman University.
He was an assistant coach for the University of Louisville under Rick Pitino when they won the 2013 NCAA Championship.
“I was a showman, and Chicago was the perfect stage for that.”
