GRAND FORKS, N.D.--Former University of North Dakota All-American and current Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was announced today as one of seven inductees into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Jackson, who played at UND from 1964-65 to 1966-67, has won nine National Basketball Association (NBA) titles as a head coach with Los Angeles and the Chicago Bulls, matching the legendary Red Auerbach's record. Jackson guided Chicago to six NBA titles (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) before leading the Lakers to three straight championships (2000, 2001, 2002).

The fastest coach in NBA history to 900 wins, Jackson led the Bulls to best record in league history at 72-10 and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1996. He owns the highest career winning percentage in league history and was named to the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History list in 1996-97. Jackson also coached Albany to a Continental Basketball Associaton (CBA) title in 1984 and was named CBA Coach of the Year that same season.

A native of Williston, N.D., Jackson earned All-America honors in each of his three seasons at UND and was twice named North Central Conference Most Valuable Player (1966, 1967). He averaged 19.9 points and a school-record 12.9 rebounds in 86 career collegiate games, scoring a UND-record 27.4 points per game in 1966-67. Jackson ranks fifth on UND's all-time scoring list (1,708) and third all-time in rebounding (1,109).

Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks in the second round of the 1967 NBA draft and went on to enjoy a 13-year playing career, winning an NBA title with the Knicks in 1972-73.

Jackson, who also played baseball for the Fighting Sioux, was inducted into the UND Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981 and was named to the NCAA Division II Men's Basketball 50th Anniversary All-Elite Eight Team in March, 2006.

Jackson and the Class of 2007 will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in September.

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