Welcome to the Behind the Coaching’s archive of coach profiles for all NBA head and assistant coaches who coached in the 1970s. Our coach profiles index tracks the career paths, philosophies, and coaching trees of every single head and assistant coach active between 1970 and 1979. Subscribe to our Substack newsletter to stay updated!
These coach profiles are intended and were created to be informative for our readers and fans of basketball, the NBA, and/or sports in general. Behind the Coaching is NOT affiliated with any of the persons of interest within the NBA unless it’s ever specified in one of our articles or profiles for that particular coach.
Disclaimer: These profiles are created purely for information purposes and are only maintained and updated by the site’s editors, not the person of interest. These profiles have no official relation to the actual coach, league, team, or person unless stated otherwise.
Featured Coaches
Red Holzman
Coach Red Holzman was one of the most influential coaches in NBA history and is considered one the greatest in New York Knicks history. In 1970 and 1973, The New York Knicks won the NBA championship. As of 2026, Coach Holzman holds the record for most regular season and playoff wins in Knicks history.
Bill Sharman
Coach Bill Sharman was known for his ability to modernize the “shootaround” portion of practices and pre-game preparation. Coming off a championship with the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association, Sharman and his assistant coach Larry Creger took the helm of the Los Angeles Lakers and won the 1972 NBA championship, the team’s first since relocating to Los Angeles.
Profile Coming Soon!
Tom Heinsohn
Coach Tom Heinsohn is the 3rd coach in NBA history to win a championship for the same team he played and coached, joining Buddy Jennette and Bill Russell. Winning 2 more championships in 1974 and 1976 to add to the Boston Celtics trophy case, Heinsohn has the 2nd most regular season coaching wins and the 4th most playoff wins in Celtics history.
Profile Coming Soon!
Al Attles
Coach Al Attles is one of the most influential figures in both NBA and Golden State Warriors history. Having played 11 seasons for the Philadelphia and San Francisco Warriors, Attles coached the Warriors in 3 different stints, 2 as an assistant and 1 as a head coach. In 1975, Led by Attles and assistant coach Joe Roberts, who took the acting head coach role when Attles was ejected in the 1975 finals, won the championship, the third in Warriors history.
Jack Ramsay
Coach Dr. Jack Ramsay was known for his emphasis on teaching of the fundamentals of basketball and of course his choice in fashion with his iconic suits. He won the team’s first championship in the 1977 finals, which included an impactful offense by assistant coach Jack McKinney, and a strong performance by Hall of Famer Bill Walton. Ramsay holds the record for most regular season coaching wins in Trail Blazers history.
Profile Coming soon!
All NBA Coaches (1970-1979)
This is a list of every single known NBA Head and Assistant Coach from 1970-1979. Please click/tap on each year tab to navigate through each season’s coaching staff. The names that are hyperlinked means we currently have a “Coach Profile” for them, while those who don’t have a profile, they are planned and being worked on, so check back to this page often to see any changes!
Changes are subject to be made to the format as necessary to accommodate our readers and website users.
1971 NBA Coach of the Year: Red Holzman (NYK)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Dolph Schayes
Assistant Coach
Baltimore Bullets
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Richie Gurien
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Joe Mallaney
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Butch Van Breda Kolff
San Diego Rockets
Head Coach: Alex Hannum
Cincinnati Royals
Head Coach: Bob Cousy
1972 NBA Coach of the Year: Bill Sharman (LAL)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Dolph Schayes (0-1) & Johnny McCarthy (22-59)
Assistant Coach
Baltimore Bullets
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Richie Gurien
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Butch Van Breda Kolff (6-4) & Earl Lloyd (20-50)
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Tex Winter
Assistant Coach
Cincinnati Royals
Head Coach: Bob Cousy
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Rolland Todd (12-44) & Stu Inman (6-20)
1973 NBA Coach of the Year: Tom Heinsohn (BOS)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Roy Rubin & Kevin Loughery
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Baltimore Bullets
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Assistant Coach
Kansas City–Omaha Kings
Head Coach: Bob Cousy
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Tex Winter & Johnny Egan
Assistant Coach
Phoenix Suns
Head Coach: Butch Van Brenda Kolff & Jerry Colangelo
1974 NBA Coach of the Year: Ray Scott (DET)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Capital Bullets
Head Coach: K.C. Jones
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Assistant Coach
Kansas City–Omaha Kings
Head Coach: Bob Cousy, Draff Young, & Phil Johnson
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Johnny Egan
Assistant Coach
Seattle SuperSonics
Head Coach: Bill Russell
Assistant Coach
1975 NBA Coach of the Year: Phil Johnson (KCAOK)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Capital Bullets
Head Coach: K.C. Jones
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Assistant Coach
New Orleans Jazz
Head Coach: Scotty Robertson, Elgin Baylor, and Butch Van Brenda Kolff
Assistant Coaches
Kansas City–Omaha Kings
Head Coach: Phil Johnson
Assistant Coach
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Ray Scott
Assistant Coach
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Johnny Egan
Assistant Coach
Seattle SuperSonics
Head Coach: Bill Russell
Assistant Coach
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach
1976 NBA Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch (CLE)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Assistant Coach
Washington Bullets
Head Coach: K.C. Jones
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Assistant Coach
New Orleans Jazz
Head Coach: Butch Van Brenda Kolff
Assistant Coach
Kansas City–Omaha Kings
Head Coach: Phil Johnson
Assistant Coach
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Johnny Egan
Assistant Coach
Seattle SuperSonics
Head Coach: Bill Russell
Assistant Coach
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach
1977 NBA Coach of the Year: Tom Nissalke (HOU)
Philadelphia 76ers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Larry Costello & Don Nelson
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Ed Badger
Assistant Coach
Buffalo Braves
Head Coach: Tates Locke
Washington Bullets
Head Coach: K.C. Jones
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Tom Heinsohn
Assistant Coach
New Orleans Jazz
Head Coach: Butch Van Brenda Kolff & Elgin Baylor
Assistant Coach
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Bill Sharman
Assistant Coach
New York Nets
Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Assistant Coach
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Bobby “Slick” Leonard
Assistant Coach
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Doug Moe
Assistant Coach
Seattle SuperSonics
Head Coach: Bill Russell
Assistant Coach
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach
1978 NBA Coach of the Year: Hubie Brown (ATL)
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Don Nelson
Assistant Coach
Chicago Bulls
Head Coach: Ed Badger
Assistant Coaches
Washington Bullets
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Willis Reed
Assistant Coaches
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Jerry West
Assistant Coaches
New Jersey Nets
Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Assistant Coach
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Bobby “Slick” Leonard
Assistant Coach
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Doug Moe
Assistant Coach
Seattle SuperSonics
Head Coach: Bob Hopkins & Lenny Wilkens
Assistant Coach
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Assistant Coach
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Don Nelson
Assistant Coach
Washington Bullets
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coach
San Diego Clippers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
Atlanta Hawks
Head Coach: Hubie Brown
Assistant Coaches
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Willis Reed & Red Holzman
Assistant Coach
- Dick McGuire
- Butch Beard (Player-Coach
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Jerry West
Assistant Coaches
New Jersey Nets
Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Assistant Coaches
Denver Nuggets
Head Coach: Larry Brown & Donnie Walsh
Assistant Coach
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Bobby “Slick” Leonard
Assistant Coach
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Dick Vitale
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Doug Moe
Assistant Coach
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Assistant Coaches
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles
Assistant Coach
1980 NBA Coach of the Year: Bill Fitch (BOS)
Milwaukee Bucks
Head Coach: Don Nelson
Assistant Coach
Washington Bullets
Head Coach: Dick Motta
Assistant Coach
Cleveland Cavaliers
Head Coach: Stan Albeck
Assistant Coach
Boston Celtics
Head Coach: Bill Fitch
Assistant Coaches
San Diego Clippers
Head Coach: Gene Shue
Assistant Coach
New York Knicks
Head Coach: Red Holzman
Los Angeles Lakers
Head Coach: Jack McKinney & Paul Westhead
Assistant Coaches
New Jersey Nets
Head Coach: Kevin Loughery
Assistant Coaches
Denver Nuggets
Head Coach: Donnie Walsh
Assistant Coach
Indiana Pacers
Head Coach: Bobby “Slick” Leonard
Assistant Coaches
- Roger Brown
- Jack McCloskey (Temporarily before becoming Detroit’s General Manager)
Detroit Pistons
Head Coach: Dick Vitale & Richie Adubato
Assistant Coach
Houston Rockets
Head Coach: Del Harris
Assistant Coach
San Antonio Spurs
Head Coach: Doug Moe & Bob Bass
Assistant Coach
Portland Trail Blazers
Head Coach: Jack Ramsay
Assistant Coach
San Francisco Warriors
Head Coach: Al Attles & Johnny Bach
Assistant Coach
NBA 1970s Coaches in our Media
