Randy Wittman
NCAA Champion | Former NBA Guard | NBA Coaching Veteran
Randy Wittman is an Indiana basketball icon whose career spans more than four decades as a player, coach, and advisor. A standout guard on Indiana University’s 1981 national championship team, Wittman went on to play 9 seasons in the NBA before transitioning into coaching. He spent 20 years on NBA sidelines as both an assistant and head coach, leading teams in Cleveland, Minnesota, and Washington while helping develop stars such as Kevin Garnett, John Wall, and Bradley Beal.
After his NBA tenure, Wittman served as a consultant for the Orlando Magic and later returned to his roots, serving as a contract advisor for the Indiana Hoosiers in 2021, where he continues to share his experience and leadership with the program.
- Overall NBA Head Coaching Record: 278-406
Coaching Career
Shortly after retiring in 1992, Wittman was hired as an assistant coach for the Indiana Pacers under Bob Hill. The team finished with a 41-41 record, losing in 4 games (3-1) against the New York Knicks in the first round of the 1993 playoffs. Coach Hill was fired after the season, and his coaching staff were not retained by the incoming head coach Larry Brown.
Notable Players Coached
- Reggie Miller (2012 Naismith Hall of Famer, 5× NBA All‑Star, All‑NBA, Future 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist)
- Detlef Schrempf (3× NBA All‑Star, 2× Sixth Man of the Year, All‑NBA)
- Rik Smits (1998 NBA All‑Star)
- Dale Davis (2000 NBA All‑Star)
- Sam Mitchell (Future 2007 NBA Coach of the Year)
Wittman spent a season with the Dallas Mavericks under Quinn Buckner. The Mavericks finished with a 13-69 regular season record and Buckner was fired after the season. None of his staff was retained by the incoming head coach Dick Motta.
Notable Players Coached
- Jamal Mashburn (2003 NBA All‑Star)
- Jim Jackson (UPI College Player of the Year 1992)
- Popeye Jones (1994 NBA All‑Rookie Second Team)
- Fat Lever (2× All‑Star, All‑NBA, All‑Defensive Team)
- Tim Legler (Future 1996 NBA Three‑Point Contest Champion)
- Sean Rooks
Wittman was named an assistant coach on Bill Blair’s coaching staff in 1994 and was later retained by Flip Saunders when he replaced Blair mid-season, finishing with a slightly better record of 26-56.
Wittman along with the Timberwolves coaching staff contributed to turning the team around as the Timberwolves improved their record to 40-42, reaching the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They were eliminated in 3 games against the Houston Rockets. The team continued their winning records and playoff appearances but were being eliminated in the first round against the Seattle SuperSonics and San Antonio Spurs respectively.
Notable Players Coached
- Kevin Garnett (2021 Naismith Hall of Famer, 2004 NBA MVP, 15× All‑Star, 2008 DPOY)
- Stephon Marbury (2x NBA All‑Star, 2x All‑NBA Third Team)
- Tom Gugliotta (1997 NBA All‑Star)
- Sam Mitchell (Future 2007 NBA Coach of the Year)
- Terry Porter (2× NBA All‑Star)
- Doug West
In 1999, Wittman was hired as the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, succeeding Mike Fratello. This was Wittman’s first head coaching job. His coaching staffs featured Bill Blair, his former Minnesota boss, Bob Ocipeka, who he coached alongside with in Indiana, Keith Smart, and Mike Woodson, who he would later work with during Woodson’s head coaching tenure with the Hoosiers.
In Wittman’s first season as the head coach, the Cavaliers finished with a 32–50 record with notable talent in Shawn Kemp, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Lamond Murray. The following season, the team finished with a 30–52 record. Wittman was fired after 2 seasons and a 62-102 coaching record with the Cavaliers.
Notable Players Coached
- Zydrunas Ilgauskas (2× NBA All‑Star)
- Chris Gatling (1997 NBA All‑Star)
- Clarence Weatherspoon (1993 NBA All-Rookie Second Team)
- Wesley Person (Elite 3‑point shooter, 41% career from deep)
- Lamond Murray
Wittman returned to the Timberwolves for the second time under Flip Saunders. The team had made a deep playoff run in 2004, reaching the western conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. They were defeated in 6 games. In that same season, Kevin Garnett won the MVP award.
Notable Players Coached
- Kevin Garnett (2021 Naismith Hall of Famer, 2004 NBA MVP, 15× All‑Star, 2008 DPOY)
- Sam Cassell (Future 2008 NBA Champion, 2004 All‑Star)
- Latrell Sprewell (4× All‑Star, All‑NBA, All‑Defensive Team)
- Wally Szczerbiak (2002 NBA All‑Star)
- Michael Olowokandi (Former 1998 No. 1 pick)
- Mark Madsen (Future 2× NBA Champion with the Los Angeles Lakers)
- Trenton Hassell
- Troy Hudson
Wittman was hired as an assistant coach under Brian Hill for the Orlando Magic. Amongst Wittman’s fellow assistant coaches was Mark Bryant, who Wittman coached in Cleveland. The Magic finished with a 36–46 record, not qualifying for the playoffs.
Notable Players Coached
- Dwight Howard (2025 Naismith Hall of Famer, 8× All‑Star, 3× DPOY, 2020 NBA Champion)
- Grant Hill (7× All‑Star, Hall of Famer, All‑NBA)
- Hedo Türkoğlu (2008 NBA Most Improved Player)
- Jameer Nelson (2009 NBA All‑Star)
Wittman returned to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a third time, but this time he was an assistant coach under Dwane Casey, who was fired mid-season after a 20-20 record, Whitman was later named his replacement.
In 2009, He was fired after a 4-15 start, replaced by General Manager Kevin McHale.
Notable Players Coached
- Kevin Garnett (2021 Naismith Hall of Famer, 2004 NBA MVP, 15× All‑Star, 2008 DPOY)
- Al Jefferson (2014 All-NBA Third Team)
- Randy Foye (2007 All‑Rookie First Team)
- Corey Brewer (NCAA Champion, Future 2011 NBA Champion)
Wittman reunited with Flip Saunders when he was named an assistant coach on his Washington staff in 2009. He remained as an assistant until 2012 when Saunders was fired after a 2-15 start and Wittman became the interim head coach. After the season they finished with a 29–53 overall record and he was named the official head coach, making this his 3rd head coaching job.
Notable Players Coached
- John Wall (6× NBA All‑Star, 2017 All-NBA Third Team, 2015 All‑Defensive Second Team)
- Gilbert Arenas (3× All‑Star, 3× All‑NBA, 2003 Most Improved Player)
- JaVale McGee (Future 3x NBA Champion)
- Nick Young (Future 2018 NBA Champion)
- Rashard Lewis (2004 NBA Champion, 2× All‑Star)
- Kirk Hinrich (2007 All‑Defensive Second Team)
- Al Thornton (Former 2007 14th lottery pick)
- Bradley Beal (Future 3× NBA All-Star, 2021 All-NBA Third Team, 2013 All-Rookie First Team)
- Andray Blatche
- Trevor Booker
Wittman was named the official head coach in 2012, making this his 3rd head coaching job. In his 4 years with the team, the Wizards made the playoffs 2 times, which led to 2 conferences semi-finals.
After 3 and a half seasons as the head coach, Wittman was fired due to missing the playoffs in 2016. This would be the last season Wittman was on the Basketball sidelines as a Coach.
Notable Players Coached
- John Wall (6× All‑Star, All‑NBA, NBA All‑Defensive Team)
- Bradley Beal (3× All‑Star, 30‑PPG scorer, All‑NBA)
- Paul Pierce (NBA Champion, Finals MVP, 10× All‑Star, Hall of Famer)
- Marcin Gortat (NBA Finals starter with Orlando, elite pick‑and‑roll center)
- Trevor Ariza (NBA Champion, elite 3‑and‑D wing)
- Nene (Olympic medalist, longtime NBA big man)
- Otto Porter Jr. (Former No. 3 pick, future 20‑PPG scorer, NBA Champion)