27 Facts About Randy Ayers

Randall Duane Ayers was born on April 16,1956 and is an American basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association.

Randy Ayers grew up in Springfield, Ohio and played college basketball at Miami University in Ohio.

Randy Ayers was selected in the third round of the 1978 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.

Randy Ayers played one year of professional basketball for the Reno Bighorns of the World Basketball Association.

From 1984 to 1989, Randy Ayers was an assistant at Ohio State under Eldon Miller and Gary Williams and was promoted to head coach in 1989.

However, amidst declining team performance and an ethics violation, Randy Ayers was fired in 1997.

Since leaving Ohio State, Randy Ayers has coached in the NBA, starting as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers from 1999 to 2003.

Subsequently, Randy Ayers was an assistant for the Orlando Magic from 2005 to 2007, Washington Wizards from 2007 to 2009, the New Orleans Hornets from 2010 to 2012 and 2014 to 2015, and then the Phoenix Suns beginning in 2019.

Randy Ayers was born in Springfield, Ohio, the fourth of eight children of Frank Randy Ayers and Betty Basey.

Randy Ayers attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he played basketball.

Randy Ayers made his mark more as a defender, rebounder and playmaker than as a scorer, as Miami teammates Archie Aldridge as well as Chuck Goodyear provided much of the offense.

Randy Ayers was named second-team All-MAC as his teammate, Archie Aldridge, earned MAC Player of the Year.

Randy Ayers earned a bachelor's degree in education in 1978 and master's degree in 1981, both from Miami.

Randy Ayers was drafted in the third round of the 1978 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, but was cut from the team and then played professionally in Reno, Nevada for the Reno Bighorns in the fledgling Western Basketball Association.

Randy Ayers earned second-team all-league honors, but the WBA folded after one season.

In 1979, Randy Ayers returned to Miami University for graduate school and became a graduate assistant for his former coach Hedric.

In June 1994, the National Collegiate Athletics Association placed Ohio State on one year's probation after finding that Randy Ayers improperly met with a high school recruit and basketball coach during a restricted time period and paid $60 to the coach.

Randy Ayers was named head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers on June 20,2003, after serving as an assistant coach with the team since 1997.

Randy Ayers then served as an assistant coach for the Orlando Magic.

On July 24,2007, Randy Ayers was hired as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards.

Randy Ayers then joined the coaching staff of the New Orleans Hornets in 2010, continuing his position until 2012.

On June 26,2019, Randy Ayers was hired as an assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns.

On June 28,2022, Randy Ayers was moved to the team's coaching advisor position, which allows him to take on a smaller role with the coaching staff and spend more time with his family, as well as remain a key part of the Suns' coaching staff.

Randy Ayers married high school Spanish teacher Carol Denise Peery in 1983.

Ryan Randy Ayers was born on July 16,1986 and played college basketball at Notre Dame and was later an assistant coach there.

Cameron Randy Ayers was born on September 18,1991 and played college basketball at Bucknell University and played pro basketball.

Randy Ayers was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013.