John MacLeod
Phoenix Suns Winningest Coach | 1997 Big East Coach of the Year | Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
John MacLeod was a venerable figure in basketball coaching, known for his calm leadership and technical mastery across both the NBA and collegiate levels. An Indiana native and Bellarmine University star, MacLeod began his head coaching journey at the University of Oklahoma (1967–1973), where he compiled a winning record in five of his six seasons.
His most enduring legacy was built with the Phoenix Suns, whom he coached for 14 seasons (1973–1987). as of 2026, MacLeod remains the winningest coach in Suns history, amassing 579 regular-season victories. His tenure was highlighted by the legendary “Sunderella Suns” run to the 1976 NBA Finals, which included an iconic triple-overtime Game 5 against the Boston Celtics. Following his time in Phoenix, he led the Dallas Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 1988 and briefly coached the New York Knicks.
In 1991, MacLeod transitioned back to the college ranks at Notre Dame, where he helped usher the program into the Big East Conference and was named Big East Coach of the Year in 1997. Inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and the 2012 Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor, MacLeod was widely respected for his “gentleman” persona and his disciplined, defense-first philosophy.
Coach MacLeod passed away on April 14, 2019.
- Overall Coaching Record: 950-904
Coaching Story
Coaching Career
John MacLeod started his head coach of the Sooners men’s basketball team of the University of Oklahoma. In 6 seasons with the program, MacLeod compiled a regular season of 90–69 and a playoff record of 44–40, clinching 2 NIT Berths.
- 1967–68: 13–13
- 1968–69: 7–19
- 1969–70: 19–9 (Reached the NIT Quarterfinals)
- 1970–71: 19–8 (Reached the NIT First Round)
- 1971–72: 14–12
- 1972–73: 18–8
Coach MacLeod succeeded Butch van Breda Kolff as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. In his first season, the Suns finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs.
In 1976, the Phoenix Suns finished with a 42–40 record, making a deep playoff run to the finals, but were eliminated in 6 games against the Boston Celtics. This was the season that was nicknamed the “Sunderella Suns”.
In 1978, the Suns returned to the playoffs since their finals run with a record of 49–33 but lost in the first round to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2 games (2-0). The following season, the Suns finished with a 50–32 record, making a deep playoff run to the conference finals, but were eliminated by Lenny Wilkens and the Seattle Supersonics in 7 games.
In 1981, the Phoenix Suns finished with a 57-25 record, 1st place in the western conference, the first and only time they would finish in first under MacLeod. In 1984, the Suns made a deep playoff run to the conference finals, facing off against the Los Angeles Lakers and were eliminated in 6 games.
The Suns made their last playoff appearance under MacLeod in 1985 where they were eliminated in the first round by the Los Angeles Lakers in 3 games (3-0).
As of 2026, MacLeod has the most coaching wins in Suns history with 579 and the most playoff wins with 37.
Notable Players Coached
- Dick Van Arsdale
- 3× NBA All-Star (1969–1971)
- NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1974)
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (1966)
- No. 5 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Charlie Scott
- 1976 NBA champion
- 3× NBA All-Star (1973–1975)
- 2× ABA All-Star (1971, 1972)
- 1971 All-ABA First Team
- 1972 All-ABA Second Team
- 1971 ABA Rookie of the Year
- 1971 ABA All-Rookie First Team
- ABA All-Time Team
- Paul Westphal
- 1974 NBA champion
- 5× NBA All-Star (1977–1981)
- 3× All-NBA First Team (1977, 1979, 1980)
- 1978 All-NBA Second Team
- 1983 NBA Comeback Player of the Year
- No. 44 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Walter Davis
- 6× NBA All-Star (1978–1981, 1984, 1987)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1978, 1979)
- 1978 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1978 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 6 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Maurice Lucas
- 1977 NBA champion (1977)
- 4× NBA All-Star (1977–1979, 1983)
- 1976 ABA All-Star
- All-NBA Second Team (1978)
- 1978 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- ABA All-Time Team
- No. 20 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Dennis Johnson
- 3× NBA champion (1979, 1984, 1986)
- 1979 NBA Finals MVP
- 5× NBA All-Star (1979–1982, 1985)
- 1981 All-NBA First Team
- 1980 All-NBA Second Team
- 6× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1979–1983, 1987)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1984–1986)
- No. 3 retired by Boston Celtics
- Larry Nance
- 3× NBA All-Star (1985, 1989, 1993)
- 1989 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1992, 1993)
- 1984 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
- No. 22 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers
- Tom Van Arsdale
- 3× NBA All-Star (1970–1972)
- 1966 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Alvan Adams
- 1976 NBA All-Star
- 1976 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1976 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 33 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Truck Robinson
- 2× NBA All-Star (1978, 1981)
- 1978 All-NBA First Team
- 1978 NBA rebounding leader
- Ted McClain
- 2× ABA champion (1975–1976)
- 1974 ABA All-Star
- 1974 ABA All-Defensive First Team
- 1974 ABA steals leader
- Jeff Hornacek
- 1992 NBA All-Star
- 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1998, 2000)
- No. 14 retired by Utah Jazz
- Future Suns Head Coach
- John Wetzel (Future NBA coach)
Coach MacLeod succeeded Dick Motta as the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks. In his first season, the team finished with a 53–29 record, making a deep playoff run to the western conference finals, but were eliminated by Pat Riley and the Los Angeles Lakers.
The following season, the Mavericks finished with a record of 38–44, missing the playoffs. In 1989, MacLeod was fired after a 5-6 start. He was replaced by Richie Adubato.
Notable Players Coached
- Mark Aguirre
- 2× NBA champion (1989, 1990)
- 3× NBA All-Star (1984, 1987, 1988)
- No. 24 retired by Dallas Mavericks
- Rolando Blackman
- 4× NBA All-Star (1985–1987, 1990)
- No. 22 retired by Dallas Mavericks
- Derek Harper
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1987, 1990)
- No. 12 retired by Dallas Mavericks
- Detlef Schrempf
- 3× NBA All-Star (1993, 1995, 1997)
- 1995 All-NBA Third Team
- 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1991, 1992)
- Adrian Dantley
- 6× NBA All-Star (1980–1982, 1984–1986)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1981, 1984)
- 1984 NBA Comeback Player of the Year
- 1977 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1977 NBA All-Rookie Team
- 2× NBA scoring champion (1981, 1984)
- No. 4 retired by Utah Jazz
- James Donaldson (1988 NBA All-Star)
- Brad Davis (No. 15 retired by Dallas Mavericks)
Coach MacLeod replaced Stu Jackson as the head coach of the New York Knicks after a 7-8 start. MacLeod finished the season with a record of 39–43, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated by the Chicago Bulls in 3 games (3-0).
Notable Players Coached
- Patrick Ewing
- 11× NBA All-Star (1986, 1988–1997)
- 1990 All-NBA First Team
- 6× All-NBA Second Team (1988, 1989, 1991–1993, 1997)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1988, 1989, 1992)
- 1986 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1986 NBA All-Rookie Team
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 33 retired by New York Knicks
- Maurice Cheeks
- 1983 NBA champion
- 4× NBA All-Star (1983, 1986–1988)
- 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1983–1986)
- 1987 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- No. 10 retired by Philadelphia 76ers
- Mark Jackson
- 1989 NBA All-Star
- 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1988 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 1997 NBA assists leader
- Kiki VanDeWeghe (2× NBA All-Star (1983, 1984)
- John Starks
- 1994 NBA All-Star
- 1993 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1997 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- Charles Oakley
- 1994 NBA All-Star
- 1994 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 1998 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Kenny Walker (1989 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion)
Coach MacLeod succeeded Digger Phelps as the head coach of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish men’s basketball team. In his first season the team finished with an 18–15 record. MacLeod won the Big East Coach of the Year in 1997.
MacLeod compiled a regular season record of 106–124 and a playoff record of 27-35.
Notable Players Coached
- LaPhonso Ellis (5th overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft)
- Elmer Bennett (38th overall pick in the 1992 NBA Draft)
- Monty Williams (24th overall pick in the 1994 NBA Draft)
- Pat Garrity (19th overall in the 1998 NBA Draft)
- Troy Murphy (14th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft)
Coach MacLeod returned to the Phoenix Suns as an assistant coach under Danny Ainge. After a 13-7 start, Ainge stepped down as the head coach, assistant coach Scott Skiles was named the interim head coach. The suns finished their season with a 53–29 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Los Angeles Lakers in 5 games.
Notable Players Coached
- Jason Kidd
- 2011 NBA champion
- 10× NBA All-Star (1996, 1998, 2000–2004, 2007, 2008, 2010)
- 5× All-NBA First Team (1999–2002, 2004)
- 2003 All-NBA Second Team
- 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1999, 2001, 2002, 2006)
- 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2003–2005, 2007)
- 1995 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 5× NBA assists leader (1999–2001, 2003, 2004)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection
- Penny Hardaway
- 4× NBA All-Star (1995–1998)
- 2× All-NBA First Team (1995, 1996)
- 1997 All-NBA Third Team
- 1994 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Kevin Johnson
- 3× NBA All-Star (1990, 1991, 1994)
- 4× All-NBA Second Team (1989–1991, 1994)
- 1992 All-NBA Third Team
- 1989 NBA Most Improved Player
- No. 7 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Shawn Marion
- 2011 NBA champion
- 4× NBA All-Star (2003, 2005–2007)
- 2× All-NBA Third Team (2005, 2006)
- 2000 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- No. 31 retired by Phoenix Suns
- Clifford Robinson
- 1994 NBA All-Star
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2000, 2002)
- 1993 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- Tom Gugliotta
- 1997 NBA All-Star
- 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team
Coach MacLeod was hired as the associate head coach under Dan Issel for the Denver Nuggets. After starting the season with a 18-16 record, assistant coach Mike Evans served as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season, which ended up with a 27–55 record, missing the playoffs.
The following season, Jeff Bzdelik was hired as the new head coach of the Nuggets, MacLeod was retained on his new staff. They finished the season with a 17–65 record, missing the playoffs. In 2003, the Nuggets finished with a 43–39 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 5 games.
Notable Players Coached
- Carmelo Anthony
- 10× NBA All-Star (2007, 2008, 2010–2017)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (2010, 2013)
- 4× All-NBA Third Team (2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
- 2013 NBA scoring champion
- 2004 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team selection
- Tim Hardaway
- 5× NBA All-Star (1991–1993, 1997, 1998)
- 1997 All-NBA First Team
- 3× All-NBA Second Team (1992, 1998, 1999)
- 1993 All-NBA Third Team
- 1990 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 10 retired by Miami Heat
- Marcus Camby
- 2007 NBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (2007, 2008)
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2005, 2006)
- 4× NBA blocks leader (1998, 2006–2008)
- 1997 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Antonio McDyess
- 2001 NBA All-Star
- 1999 All-NBA Third Team
- 1996 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Andre Miller
- 2000 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 2002 NBA assists leader
- Juwan Howard
- 2× NBA champion (2012, 2013)
- 1996 NBA All-Star
- 1996 All-NBA Third Team
- 1995 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- Scott Williams (3× NBA champion (1991–1993)
- Ryan Bowen (Future 2023 NBA champion as an assistant coach)
Coach MacLeod became an assistant coach under Mike Montgomery for the Golden State Warriors. In their only season with the team, the Warriors finished with a 34–48 record, missing the playoffs.
Notable Players Coached
- Derek Fisher (5× NBA champion (2000–2002, 2009, 2010)
- Baron Davis
- 2× NBA All-Star (2002, 2004)
- 2004 All-NBA Third Team
- 2× NBA steals leader (2004, 2007)
- Monta Ellis (2007 NBA Most Improved Player)
- Jason Richardson
- 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (2002, 2003)
- 2002 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Mike Dunleavy Jr. (Future Golden State Warriors General Manager)