Bill Fitch
1976 & 1980 NBA Coach of the Year | Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer | Top 10 NBA Coach of all Time
Bill Fitch was born on May 19, 1932, in Davenport, Iowa. He attended Coe College, where he played basketball and baseball and graduated in 1954 with a degree in physical education, a subject he’d teach later from 1958-1962 at Coe, while coaching their basketball team the KoHawks.
Fitch was known for his ability to pull poor performing teams out of the trenches while managing high level talent as proven with the Boston Celtics when he led them to the 1981 NBA title. Fitch was also the first ever Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, winning Coach of the Year in 1976, paired with the franchise’s first playoff and conference finals appearance.
In 1996, Fitch was named one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History. In 1999, he was inducted into the Coe Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2016, Fitch was honored with an honorary bench by the Hall of Fame, which surrounds a statue of James Naismith along with other granite benches in honor of great coaches, all made possible through a $150,000 donation by Rick Carlisle, a former assistant of Fitch’s during their time with the New Jersey Nets.
In 2013, he was named the recipient of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2019, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. As of 2026, Fitch currently ranks twelfth among NBA coaches in all-time number of victories with 944.
Coach Fitch passed away on February 2, 2022, at the age of 89.
- Overall Coaching Record: 1114-1191
- College: 170-85
- NBA: 944-1,106
Coaching Career
Bill Fitch started his coaching career as an assistant coach under Red McManus for the Creighton Bluejays men’s basketball team for 2 seasons.
Coach Fitch returned to his alma mater, Coe College as Assistant Professor of Physical Education, coaching the varsity men’s basketball team, the KoHawks, and acquiring a 44-40 won-loss record over four years.
Coach Fitch became the head coach of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks men’s basketball team.
His most notable team were the 1965-1966 North Dakota Fighting Hawks; they finished the season with a record of 26-5 and took third place at the NCAA College Division National Tournament. The team was led by a starting lineup of Phil Jackson, Paul Pederson, Jim Hester, John (Stony) Burckhard, and Tom Nesbitt. Jackson was honored as the NCC Most Valuable Player and earned AP and UPI All-America accolades.
The team’s success included a perfect 12-0 mark in the North Central Conference play, securing their first NCC title since 1954-55 season. They advanced to the national tournament with a 67-57 victory over Minnesota-Duluth and an 82-57 win over MSU-Moorhead. The Fighting Hawks’ performance in the national tournament was highlighted by a 97-83 victory over Seattle Pacific, followed by a 94-86 victory over St. Michael’s in the third-place game.
In 2002, the team was inducted into the school’s hall of fame.
Coach Fitch became the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons men’s basketball team. In his first and only season, the team finished with a 18-7 record, reaching the 1968 NCAA University Division basketball tournament after winning the Mid-American Conference title.
Coach Fitch became the head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers. In his first season, the team finished with a 12–12 record. The following season, they finished with a record of13–11.
Coach Fitch received his first NBA coaching job as the first ever head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In his first season, the team finished with a 15–67 record. The following season, the team finished with a 23–59 record, missing the playoffs.
In 1976, the Cavaliers finished with a 49–33 record, qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Coach Fitch won the 1976 NBA Coach of the Year award. They made a deep playoff run to the conference finals but were eliminated in 6 games by Tom Heinsohn and the Boston Celtics.
In 1977, the Cavaliers finished with a 43–39 record, qualifying for the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by Dick Motta and the Washington Bullets in 3 games (3-1). The following season, the team finished with a 43–39 record but were eliminated in the first round by Willis Reed and the New York Knicks in 2 games.
In 1979, Fitch’s last season with the Cavaliers, they finished with a 30–52 record, missing the playoffs.
Notable Players Coached
- Nate Thurmond
- 7× NBA All-Star (1965–1968, 1970, 1973, 1974)
- 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969, 1971)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1974)
- 1964 NBA All-Rookie First Team (1964)
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 42 retired by Golden State Warriors
- No. 42 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers
- Austin Carr
- 1974 NBA All-Star
- 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 34 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers
- Elmore Smith
- 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 1974 NBA blocks leader
- Bingo Smith (No. 7 retired by Cleveland Cavaliers)
- John Johnson
- 1979 NBA champion
- 2× NBA All-Star (1971, 1972)
- Butch Beard
- 1975 NBA champion
- 1972 NBA All-Star
- Future NBA Head Coach
- Jim Brewer
- Future 1982 NBA champion
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1976, 1977)
- Mike Mitchell (1981 NBA All-Star)
- Campy Russell (1979 NBA All-Star)
- Jim Cleamons
- 1972 NBA champion
- 1976 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Future 9× NBA champion (1991–1993, 1996, 2000–2002, 2009, 2010) as an assistant coach
Coach Fitch succeeded Tom Sanders and player-coach Dave Cowens as the head coach of the Boston Celtics. In his first season, the Celtics finished with a 61–21 record, making a deep playoff run to the conference finals, but were eliminated by Billy Cunningham and the Philadelphia 76ers in 5 games (4-1).
The following season, the Celtics finished with a 62–20 record, making a deep playoff run to the NBA finals, defeating Del Harris and the Houston Rockets in 6 games (4-2). In 1982, the Celtics finished with a 63–19 record, reaching the conference finals, but faced off against the Philadelphia 76ers again and were eliminated in 7 games.
In 1983, Fitch’s last season with the Celtics, the team finished with a 56–26 record and were eliminated in the semifinals by Don Nelson and the Milwaukee Bucks in a 4-0 sweep.
Notable Players Coached
- Larry Bird
- 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
- 2× NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986)
- 3× NBA Most Valuable Player (1984–1986)
- 12× NBA All-Star (1980–1988, 1990–1992)
- 1982 NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 9× All-NBA First Team (1980–1988)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1982–1984)
- 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 3× NBA Three-Point Contest champion (1986–1988)
- 1986 AP Athlete of the Year
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 33 retired by Boston Celtics
- Kevin McHale
- 3× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986)
- 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991)
- 1987 All-NBA First Team
- 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988)
- 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1989, 1990)
- 2× NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984, 1985)
- 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 32 retired by Boston Celtics
- Robert Parish
- 4× NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986, 1997)
- 9× NBA All-Star (1981–1987, 1990, 1991)
- 1982 All-NBA Second Team
- 1989 All-NBA Third Team
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 00 retired by Boston Celtics
- Dave Cowens
- 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
- NBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
- 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
- 1973 NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
- 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
- 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 18 retired by Boston Celtics
- 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
- Bob McAdoo
- 2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)
- 1975 NBA Most Valuable Player
- 5× NBA All-Star (1974–1978)
- 1975 All-NBA First Team
- 1974 All-NBA Second Team
- 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1973 NBA All-Rookie Team
- 3× NBA scoring champion (1974–1976)
- NBA 75th Anniversary Team
- Pete Maravich
- 5× NBA All-Star (1973, 1974, 1977–1979)
- 2× All-NBA First Team (1976, 1977)
- 2× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1978)
- 1971 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- 1977 NBA scoring champion
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- No. 44 retired by Atlanta Hawks
- No. 7 retired by Utah Jazz
- No. 7 retired by New Orleans Pelicans
- 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 selections
- 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
- M.L. Carr
- 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
- 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1976 ABA All-Rookie First Team
- 1979 NBA steals leader
- Cedric Maxwell
- 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
- 1981 NBA Finals MVP
- No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
- Danny Ainge
- 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986)
- 1988 NBA All-Star
- Future NBA Coach & Executive
- Don Chaney
- 2× NBA champion (1969, 1974)
- 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1975, 1977)
- Future NBA Head Coach
- Chris Ford
- 1981 NBA champion as a player
- 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986) as a Boston Celtics assistant coach
- Curtis Rowe (1976 NBA All-Star)
Coach Fitch succeeded Del Harris as the head coach of the Houston Rockets. In his first season, the team finished with a 29–53 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the Rockets finished with a 48–34 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz in 5 games (3-2).
In 1986, the Rockets finished with a 51–31 record, making a deep playoff run to the NBA Finals against Fitch’s former Boston Celtics, now led by his former assistant coach K.C. Jones. The Rockets were eliminated in 6 games (4-2). The following season, the Rockets finished with a 42–40 record, later being eliminated in the semifinals by Bernie Bickerstaff and the Seattle SuperSonics in 6 games (4-2).
In Fitch’s last season in 1988, Fitch reunited with former Celtics star Cedric Maxwell and the Rockets finished with a 46–36 record, qualifying for the playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round by John MacLeod and the Dallas Mavericks in 4 games (3-1).
Notable Players Coached
- Hakeem Olajuwon
- Future 2× NBA champion (1994, 1995)
- Future 2× NBA Finals MVP (1994, 1995)
- Future 1994 NBA Most Valuable Player
- Future 12× NBA All-Star (1985–1990, 1992–1997)
- Future 6× All-NBA First Team (1987–1989, 1993, 1994, 1997)
- Future 3× All-NBA Second Team (1986, 1990, 1996)
- Future 3× All-NBA Third Team (1991, 1995, 1999)
- Future 2× NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1993, 1994)
- Future 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994)
- Future 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1985, 1991, 1996, 1997)
- 1985 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Future 2× NBA rebounding leader (1989, 1990)
- Future 3× NBA blocks leader (1990, 1991, 1993)
- No. 34 retired by Houston Rockets
- 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
- Ralph Sampson
- 4× NBA All-Star (1984–1987)
- 1985 NBA All-Star Game MVP
- 1985 All-NBA Second Team
- 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1984 NBA All-Rookie Team
- Lionel Hollins
- 1977 NBA champion
- 1978 NBA All-Star
- 1978 NBA All-Defensive First Team
- 1979 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- 1976 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- No. 14 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
- Cedric Maxwell
- 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
- 1981 NBA Finals MVP
- No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
- Caldwell Jones
- 1975 ABA All-Star
- 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1981, 1982)
- 2× ABA blocks leader (1974, 1975)
- Joe Barry Carroll
- 1987 NBA All-Star
- 1981 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Sleepy Floyd (1987 NBA All-Star)
Coach Fitch succeeded Willis Reed as the head coach of the New Jersey Nets. In his first season, the Nets finished with a 17–65 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the Nets finished with a 26–56 record, missing the playoffs.
In 1991, the Nets finished with a 26–56 record, missing the playoffs. In 1992, Fitch’s last season with the Nets, the team finished with a 40–42 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They faced off against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who Fitch coached from 1970-1979, but lost in 4 games (3-1).
Notable Players Coached
- Derrick Coleman
- Future 1994 NBA All-Star
- Future 2× All-NBA Third Team (1993, 1994)
- 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year
- 1991 NBA All-Rookie First Team
- Mookie Blaylock
- Future 1994 NBA All-Star
- Future 2× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1994, 1995)
- Future 4× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1996–1999)
- Future 2× NBA steals leader (1997, 1998)
- Anthony Mason
- Future 2001 NBA All-Star
- Future 1997 All-NBA Third Team
- Future 1997 NBA All-Defensive Second Team
- Future 1997 NBA Sixth Man of the Year
- Leon Wood (Future NBA Referee)
Coach Fitch succeeded Bob Weiss as the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers. In his first season, the team finished with a 17–65 record, missing the playoffs. The following season, the Clippers finished with a 29–53 record, missing the playoffs.
In 1997, the Clippers finished with a 36–46 record, qualifying for the playoffs. They were eliminated in the first round by Jerry Sloan and the Utah Jazz in 3 games (3-0). In 1998, Fitch’s last season coaching, the Clippers finished with a 17–65 record, missing the playoffs.
Notable Players Coached
- Kevin Duckworth
- 2× NBA All-Star (1989, 1991)
- 1988 NBA Most Improved Player
- Brent Barry
- Future 2× NBA champion (2005, 2007)
- 1996 NBA All-Rookie Second Team
- 1996 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion
- Rodney Rogers (Future 2000 NBA Sixth Man of the Year)
- Malik Sealy (No. 2 retired by Minnesota Timberwolves)