Donnie Butcher
Detroit Pistons Head Coach | Former Pistons Assistant | NBA Player
Donnis “Donnie” Butcher was born on February 8, 1936, in Williamsport, Kentucky. He played college basketball at Pikeville and appeared in five NBA seasons as a guard with the New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons.
Following his playing career, Butcher moved onto Detroit’s coaching staff and succeeded player-coach Dave DeBusschere during the 1966-1967 season. He remained head coach into the 1968-1969 campaign.
Butcher compiled a 52-60 NBA regular-season head-coaching record over 112 games. His 1967-1968 Pistons made the playoffs, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games.
He died on October 8, 2012, at the age of 76.
- Overall Coaching Record: 52-60
Coaching Career
Butcher was listed as a Detroit assistant during the 1966-1967 season while Dave DeBusschere served as player-coach.
The Pistons were developing rookie guard Dave Bing and also relied on DeBusschere as an important player. Butcher moved from assistant to head coach on March 7, 1967.
Notable Players Coached
- Dave Bing
- 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year and Hall of Fame guard
- Dave DeBusschere
- Hall of Fame forward and then-Detroit player-coach
- Tom Van Arsdale
- Three-time NBA All-Star later in his career
Butcher directed the final eight games of 1966-1967, going 2-6. In his first full season, the 1967-1968 Pistons finished 40-42 and qualified for the Eastern Division playoffs.
Detroit lost its 1968 first-round series against Boston, four games to two. Butcher returned in 1968-1969, opening 10-12 before he was replaced by Paul Seymour on December 2, 1968.
His three partial or complete head-coaching seasons total 52 wins and 60 losses; assistant service does not count toward that record.
Notable Players Coached
- Dave Bing
- Hall of Fame scoring guard; 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Dave DeBusschere
- Eight-time NBA All-Star; later 1970 and 1973 NBA champion
- Jimmy Walker
- NBA All-Star guard and 1967 first overall draft pick