Phil Johnson

Phil Johnson started his coaching career with his alma matter the Utah State Aggies as a freshmen basketball coach under LaDell Anderson.

Coach Johnson became an assistant coach under Dick Motta for the Weber State Wildcats men’s basketball team. In his first season as an assistant coach, the Wildcats finished with a 22-3 record and won the Big Sky championship.

The following season, The Wildcats finished with a 20–5 record and were named Big Sky Co-Champions with the Gonzaga Bulldogs men’s basketball. In 1968, the Wildcats finished with a 21-6 record, winning their third Big Sky title and gained the conference’s first-ever berth in the 23-team NCAA tournament. In the West regional at nearby Salt Lake City, the Wildcats fell by eleven points to the New Mexico State Aggies men’s basketball

Coach Johnson as promoted to the head coach of the Weber State Wildcats men’s basketball team after Dick Motta became the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. In his first season as the head coach, the Wildcats finished with a 27–3 record, winning the school’s 4th Big Sky championship and played in the 25-team NCAA tournament. In the West regional at Las Cruces, New Mexico, they defeated Seattle by two points and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, against third-ranked Santa Clara. The Broncos won by four points in overtime, and Weber won the third-place game over #12 New Mexico State by two.

In his second season, the Wildcats finished with a 19–8 record, winning the program’s 5th title, they played in the 25-team NCAA tournament. In the West regional at nearby Provo, they met Jerry Tarkanian’s Long Beach State 49ers in the first round and lost by 19 points. They would also face off in Johnson’s last year in 1971 but lost by 11 points.

In all 3 seasons as the head coach, Johnson won the Big Sky Coach of the Year.

Coach Johnson became an assistant coach under Dick Motta for the Chicago Bulls. In his first season as an assistant coach, the Bulls finished with 57–25 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Los Angeles Lakers in 4 games (4-0).

The following season, the Bulls finished with a 51–31 record, reaching the semifinals, but were eliminated by the Los Angeles Lakers once again in 7 games.

Notable Players Coached

• Chet Walker
  • 1967 NBA champion
  • 7× NBA All-Star (1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974)
  • 1963 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Bob Love
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1971–1973)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1971, 1972)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1974)
  • No. 10 retired by Chicago Bulls
• Jerry Sloan (2x All Star & Future NBA Top 15 Head Coaches of all Time)
• Norm Van Lier
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977)
  • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1974, 1976, 1977)
  • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1971–1973, 1975, 1978)
  • 1971 NBA assists leader
• Clifford Ray
  • 1975 NBA champion
  • 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Bob Weiss (Future 1978 NBA Champion with Washington under Motta)

Coach Johnson took over the Head Coach of the Kansas City-Omaha Kings after Bob Cousy was fired. He finished with a 27-31 coaching record. The following season, the Kings finished with a 44–38 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the semifinals by Dick Motta and the Chicago Bulls in 6 games. Johnson won the 1975 NBA Coach of the Year award.

In 1976, the Kings finished with a 40-41 record, missing the playoffs. In the start of the 1977-1978 season, Johnson was fired after a 13-24 start and was replaced by assistant coach Larry Staverman.

Notable Players Coached

• Nate “Tiny” Archibald
  • 1981 NBA champion
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1980–1982)
  • 1981 NBA All-Star Game MVP
  • 3× All-NBA First Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1972, 1981)
  • 1973 NBA scoring champion
  • 1973 NBA assists leader
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team
  • No. 1 retired by Sacramento Kings
• Scott Wedman
  • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1976, 1980)
  • 1980 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1975 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Don Kojis (2× NBA All-Star (1968, 1969)
• Jimmy Walker (2× NBA All-Star (1970, 1972)
• Sam Lacey
  • 1975 NBA All-Star
  • No. 44 retired by Sacramento Kings
• John Block (1973 NBA All-Star)
• Mike D’Antoni (Future 2× NBA Coach of the Year (2005, 2017)

Coach Johnson became an assistant coach under Jerry Sloan for his return to the Chicago Bulls. In his first season as an assistant, the Bulls finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the team finished with a 45–37 record, qualifying for the playoffs where they were eliminated in the conference semifinals by the Boston Celtics in 4 games (4-0).

After Sloan was fired in 1982, Johnson served as the interim head coach.

Notable Players Coached

• Artis Gilmore
  • 1975 ABA champion
  • 1975 ABA Playoffs Most Valuable Player
  • 1972 ABA Most Valuable Player
  • 6× NBA All-Star (1978, 1979, 1981–1983, 1986)
  • 5× ABA All-Star (1972–1976)
  • ABA All-Star Game MVP (1974)
  • 5× All-ABA First Team (1972–1976)
  • 4× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1973–1976)
  • 1972 ABA Rookie of the Year
  • 1972 ABA All-Rookie First Team
  • 4× ABA rebounding champion (1972–1974, 1976)
  • ABA All-Time Team
• Norm Van Lier
  • 3× NBA All-Star (1974, 1976, 1977)
  • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1974, 1976, 1977)
  • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1971–1973, 1975, 1978)
  • 1971 NBA assists leader
• Cazzie Russell
  • 1970 NBA champion
  • 1972 NBA All-Star
  • 1967 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Reggie Theus (2× NBA All-Star (1981, 1983) & 1979 NBA All-Rookie First Team)
• David Greenwood (1990 NBA champion & 1980 NBA All-Rookie First Team)
• Mark Landsberger (2× NBA champion (1980, 1982)

Coach Johnson became an assistant coach under Frank Layden for the Utah Jazz. In his first season, the Jazz finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the team finished with a 45–37 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the semifinals by John MacLeod and the Phoenix Suns in 6 games (4-2). Starting with that playoff appearance, the Jazz would reach the playoffs consecutively until 2004.

Notable Players Coached

• 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
• Mark Eaton
  • 1989 NBA All-Star
  • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1989)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1985, 1986, 1989)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1987, 1988)
  • 4× NBA blocks leader (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988)
  • No. 53 retired by Utah Jazz
• Darrell Griffith
  • 1981 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • No. 35 retired by Utah Jazz
• Rickey Greene
  • 1984 NBA All-Star
  • 1984 NBA steals leader
• Thurl Bailey (1984 NBA All-Rookie First Team)

Coach Johnson took over the Kansas City Kings after Jack McKinney was fired. He finished the season with a 30-43 record and an overall team record of 31–51. The following season, the team relocated to Sacramento and finished with a record of 37–45, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by the Houston Rockets in 3 games (3-0).

Coach Johnson was fired in 1986 after a 14-32 start and was replaced by assistant coach Jerry Reynolds on an interim basis for the remainder of the season.

Notable Players Coached

• Don Buse
  • 1973 ABA champion
  • 1977 NBA All-Star
  • 1976 ABA All-Star
  • 1976 All-ABA Second Team
  • 1976 ABA steals leader
  • 4× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1977–1980)
  • 2× ABA All-Defensive First Team (1975, 1976)
  • 1977 NBA assists leader
  • 1977 NBA steals leader
• Reggie Theus
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1981, 1983)
  • 1979 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Otis Thorpe
  • Future 1994 NBA champion
  • Future 1992 NBA All-Star
• Eddie Johnson (Future 1989 NBA Sixth Man of the Year)
• Mike Woodson
  • Future 2004 NBA champion as an assistant coach
  • Future NBA Head Coach
• Larry Drew
  • Future 2016 NBA champion as an assistant coach
  • Future NBA Head Coach

Coach Johnson returned to the Utah Jazz under Jerry Sloan once again as his top assistant coach.

• 1998 NBA Finals: Lost to Chicago Bulls (4–2)
• 1997 NBA Finals: Lost to Chicago Bulls (4–2)

Western Conference Finals

• 1992: Lost to Portland Trail Blazers (4–2)
• 1994: Lost to Houston Rockets (4–1)
• 1996: Lost to Seattle SuperSonics (4–3)
• 2007: Lost to San Antonio Spurs (4–1)

Western Conference Semifinals

• 1991: Lost to Portland Trail Blazers (4–1)
• 1993: Lost to Seattle SuperSonics (3–2)
• 1995: Lost to Houston Rockets (3–2)
• 1999: Lost to Portland Trail Blazers (4–2)
• 2000: Lost to Portland Trail Blazers (4–1)
• 2008: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers (4–2)
• 2010: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers (4–0)

First Round Appearances

• 1989: Lost to Golden State Warriors (3–0)
• 1990: Lost to Phoenix Suns (3–2)
• 2001: Lost to Dallas Mavericks (3–2)
• 2002: Lost to Sacramento Kings (3–1)
• 2003: Lost to Sacramento Kings (4–1)
• 2009: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers (4–1)

Notable Players Coached

• John Stockton
  • 10× NBA All-Star (1989–1997, 2000)
  • 1993 NBA All-Star Game co-MVP
  • 2× All-NBA First Team (1994, 1995)
  • 6× All-NBA Second Team (1988–1990, 1992, 1993, 1996)
  • 3x All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1997, 1999)
  • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997)
  • 9× NBA assists leader (1988–1996)
  • 2× NBA steals leader (1989, 1992)
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 12 retired by Utah Jazz
• Karl Malone
  • 2× NBA Most Valuable Player (1997, 1999)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1988–1998, 2000–2002)
  • 2× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1989, 1993[a])
  • 11× All-NBA First Team (1989–1999)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1988, 2000)
  • 2001 All-NBA Third Team
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1997–1999)
  • 1988 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 1986 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
  • No. 32 retired by Utah Jazz
• Mark Eaton
  • 1989 NBA All-Star
  • 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1989)
  • 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1985, 1986, 1989)
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1987, 1988)
  • 4× NBA blocks leader (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988)
  • No. 53 retired by Utah Jazz
• Thurl Bailey
  • 1984 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Italian League All-Star Game MVP (1997)
  • Greek League All-Star (1994 II)
• Darrell Griffith
  • 1981 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (1981)
  • No. 35 retired by Utah Jazz
• Jeff Malone
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1986, 1987)
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (1984)
• Tom Chambers
  • 4× NBA All-Star (1987, 1989–1991)
  • NBA All-Star Game MVP (1987)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1989, 1990)
• Andrei Kirilenko
  • 2004 NBA All-Star
  • 2006 NBA All-Defensive First Team
  • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2004, 2005)
  • 2002 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 2005 NBA blocks leader
• James Donaldson (1988 NBA All-Star)
• Jeff Hornacek
  • 1992 NBA All-Star
  • 2× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1998, 2000)
  • No. 14 retired by Utah Jazz
• Deron Williams
  • 3× NBA All-Star (2010–2012)
  • 2× All-NBA Second Team (2008, 2010)
  • 2006 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Paul Millsap
  • 4× NBA All-Star (2014–2017)
  • 2016 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
  • 2007 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
• Isaac Austin (1997 NBA Most Improved Player)
• Danny Manning
  • 2× NBA All-Star (1993, 1994)
  • 1998 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
• Carlos Boozer
  • 2× NBA All-Star (2007, 2008)
  • All-NBA Third Team (2008)
  • NBA All-Rookie Second Team (2003)
• Kyle Korver (2015 NBA All-Star)
• John Starks
  • NBA All-Star (1994)
  • NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1993)
  • NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1997)
• Mark Jackson
  • 1989 NBA All-Star
  • 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year
  • 1988 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • 1997 NBA assists leader
• Tom Gugliotta
  • 1997 NBA All-Star
  • 1993 NBA All-Rookie First Team
• Mo Williams
  • 2016 NBA champion
  • 2009 NBA All-Star
• Armen Gilliam
  • NBA All-Rookie First Team (1988)
  • 2006 ABA All-Star
  • 2006 ABA All-Star Game MVP
  • 2006 All-ABA Second Team
• Gordon Hayward (Future 2017 NBA All-Star)
• Rusty LaRue (1998 NBA champion)
• Tony Massenburg (2005 NBA champion)
• Shandon Anderson (2006 NBA champion)
• Deshawn Stevenson (2011 NBA champion)
• Greg Foster (2001 NBA champion)
• Jacque Vaughn (NBA 2007 champion & Coach)
• Tyrone Corbin (Utah Jazz Head Coach)
• Howard Eisley (Future NBA & NCAA coach)
• Jarron Collins (Future NBA coach)
• Earl Watson (Future NBA head coach)
• Marc Iavaroni (1983 NBA champion & Future NBA coach)