Miami Alumni Network Lunch with a Legend
Join us for an exclusive lunch with alum and basketball legend Ron Rothstein ’64! This is your chance to hear about Ron’s journey firsthand—from captaining the URI basketball team to becoming the Miami HEAT’s first-ever head coach and taking part in over 2,300 NBA games. Ron will share plenty of behind-the-scenes moments from his legendary 50+-year career in professional basketball. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just love hearing about Rhody Rams making history, this is an event you won’t want to miss!
Cost: $30; includes appetizers, lunch, and soft drinks. Cash bar available.
Register by: Friday, March 7, 2025
Take the Brightline for Easy Travel!
Coming from north of Miami? Skip the traffic and take the Brightline! With stations in West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and Aventura, the Brightline offers a seamless ride straight to MiamiCentral. From there, Smith & Wollensky—our venue for this exclusive lunch with NBA legend Ron Rothstein ’64—is just a short Uber away.
Make a Day of It
Before or after lunch, explore Miami’s vibrant scene with an Art Deco Walking Tour in South Beach, just minutes away. And if you want to hear Ron Rothstein in action, catch him that evening as the Miami HEAT take on the LA Clippers—tip-off is at 8 p.m.! Get your tickets here.
About Ron Rothstein ’64
With more than 50 years in the game as an athlete and coach, Ron Rothstein ’64 is a true basketball legend. At URI, Rothstein was a three-year starter and captain of the 1963-64 squad. He was inducted into the URI Athletic Hall of Fame in 1989 and in 2010, he received the Ram Legend award.
After URI, Rothstein earned master’s degree from Hunter College and enjoyed a successful coaching career at the collegiate and high school levels before joining the pro ranks. He began his NBA career in 1979 as a regional scout for the Atlanta Hawks and later the New York Knicks. He got his first NBA coaching opportunity as an assistant with the Hawks in 1983. After spending three years on the Hawks bench, Rothstein joined the Detroit coaching staff as an assistant in 1986 where he was credited with establishing the defensive mindset and principals that helped the Pistons reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1987 and the NBA Finals in 1988.
In 1988 he was named the Miami HEAT’s first head coach. He guided the HEAT through its first three seasons, increasing the team’s victory total each year. After his first stint with the HEAT, Rothstein returned to Detroit for two seasons, first as a TV/radio analyst and scout, then as the club’s head coach for the 1992-93 season. In 1993, Rothstein became an assistant coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent six seasons before returning to South Florida. He also served as general manager and head coach of the WNBA’s Miami SOL during its three-year history (2000-02) and had a 10-year run as an assistant coach for the HEAT before retiring from coaching after the 2013-14 season.
During his 26 seasons in the NBA he coached in a combined 2,306 games as either a head or assistant coach. On June 2, 2011, in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, he reached a personal milestone when he coached in his 2,000th NBA game. Now in his 11th consecutive season as a TV studio analyst, Rothstein appears in the studio for all home games broadcast on Bally Sports Sun.
URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement strives to provide inclusive access to events. If you need a reasonable accommodation or have a question about accessing this event, please call 401.874.2242 at least five business days in advance. For TTY assistance, please call the R.I. Relay Service at 711.