Ime Udoka Dad Vitalis Udoka: Meet Celtics Coach Parents, Sister, Family, & Ethnicity

Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka father, Vitalis Udoka, is of Nigerian origin. He was born in Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria.

Vitalis moved from Nigeria to Oregon to pursue his education at Portland State University and live the American dream, despite encountering bigotry and discrimination.

He met Ime’s mother, Agnes, along the way. They fell in love, married, and settled in Portland, Oregon, where they had three kids, Ime, James, and his sister Mfon Udoka. Ime Udoka was born Ime Sunday Udoka on August 9, 1977. 

The 45-year-old former NBA star has a mixed ethnicity of Afro-American heritage. Additionally, he has dual citizenship in both Nigeria and the United States of America. There’s no connection between his birth date and his middle name Sunday. In fact, he was not born on Sunday. His birthdate lies on Tuesday.

Ime’s father worked various jobs as a worker throughout his life, and he was even dismissed on many occasions for trying to advocate for himself in the workplace. Meanwhile, his mother Agnes was from Illinois.

Udoka was devoted to his mother when he was a toddler when he would accompany Agnes wherever she went. Later, when he had his first steady income as a professional athlete, he surprised Agnes by buying her home with the money he earned.

Unfortunately, his father, Vitalis, and mother, Agnes, have long perished, leaving him without either of his parents. His father passed away in 2006, and his beloved mother took her last breath in late 2011.

Ime Udoka grew up with his brother James and sister Mfon Udoka in Portland, Oregon.

The Udoka family had five members in its glory. Both his parents have passed away, and now only three of the original family members remain, and they are his brother James and sister Mfon.

In addition, the basketball coach saw both of his parents expire as a result of serious illnesses: his father passed away from cardiac arrest, and his mother passed away from cancer. Despite the tragedy, the athlete continued to focus on his profession while feeling a tremendous burden.

Meet Ime Udoka Sister Mfon Udoka

Mfon Udoka is an elder sister of Ime. She was born a year before him; thus, Mfon, aged 46, is a year older than Ime, aged 45.

In addition, she followed a professional path similar to that of her brother Ime by first competing as a basketball player and then transitioning into the role of a coach when she finished her playing career.

Both siblings have shown remarkable growth and development during their careers and significantly improved the game. In the world of basketball, they are both household names who have carved out prominent roles for themselves amongst their peers.

However, the two of them did not join the same college; Ime studied at Jefferson High School, Portland, while his sister Mfon DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, after completing her high school graduation from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1994.

Mfon began her professional basketball career with the WNBA team Detroit Shock in 1998. But soon left the club and country and went to different parts of the world for study purposes and career demands.

She was given a spot on the Houston Comets squad after impressing the coaching staff during the 2003 training camp. After representing Nigeria in the Athens Olympics, Udoka concluded a deal to play for the Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA for the 2004 season; however, she only appeared in three games with the team.

Ime Udoka has not been married, but he is engaged to her long-term partner Nia Long.

The pair completed their engagement in May 2015, and it has been seven years, yet the marriage is not on the table. Long has made it clear a few times now that she does not intend to get married.

Udoka met Long in 2010 while working as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs. The two immediately hit off and began dating. They welcomed their first baby a year later, in November 2011. The pair named their son Kez Sunday Udoka.

She occasionally uploads of her son and fiance on her Instagram handle @iamnialong. Her account has almost 4 million followers, currently hanging at 3.9 million, and she has 912 posts. Her baby boy Kez turns 11 this November.

Ime Udoka Partner Nia Long Is An Actress

Nia Long has a reputation in Hollywood as a versatile actress who can play various roles. She has spent most of her career in the African American film industry, where she has made a name for herself.

She is most known for her unbelievable performances in the movies like Buried Alive (1990) and The Best Man (1999), followed by its sequel, The Best Man Holiday (2013), where she portrayed a character named Jordan Armstrong.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, the 52-year-old NAACP Image Awards winner is the mother of two. Long also has a son from her past affair. Furthermore, The Sterling Children’s Home in Barbados benefits from Long’s services as a motivational speaker, thanks to her volunteer work there.