Bill Van Breda Kolff
Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach | Detroit Pistons Head Coach | NBA Coach
Bill Van Breda Kolff was born on October 28, 1922, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He played college basketball at Princeton University and spent four seasons with the New York Knicks before beginning a long coaching career.
Van Breda Kolff first appeared on an NBA coaching staff as an assistant with the Knicks in 1950-1951. After successful college coaching stops, he returned to the NBA as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1967.
He later coached the Detroit Pistons, Phoenix Suns, and New Orleans Jazz. His NBA head-coaching record was 266-253, excluding his one season as an ABA head coach.
Coach Van Breda Kolff passed away on August 22, 2007, at the age of 84.
- Overall Coaching Record: 266-253
Coaching Career
Van Breda Kolff served as an assistant coach with the New York Knicks during the 1950-1951 season.
The Knicks went 36-30 and reached the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Rochester Royals in 7 games.
The season became Van Breda Kolff's first documented NBA coaching role before he moved into the college ranks.
Notable Players Coached
- Dick McGuire
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Harry Gallatin
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Nat Clifton
- 1957 NBA All-Star
Van Breda Kolff returned to the NBA when he was hired as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1967.
The Lakers went 52-30 in 1967-1968 and reached the NBA Finals. Los Angeles improved to 55-27 the following season and again reached the Finals after adding Wilt Chamberlain.
Van Breda Kolff resigned after the 1969 NBA Finals and finished his Lakers tenure with a 107-57 regular-season record.
Notable Players Coached
- Jerry West
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1972 NBA champion
- 14× NBA All-Star
- Elgin Baylor
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 11× NBA All-Star
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 4× NBA MVP
- 2× NBA champion
Van Breda Kolff was hired by the Detroit Pistons shortly after leaving the Lakers.
Detroit improved from 31-51 in his first season to 45-37 in 1970-1971. He resigned early in the 1971-1972 season after a 6-4 start.
Van Breda Kolff finished his Detroit tenure with an 82-92 record.
Notable Players Coached
- Dave Bing
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Bob Lanier
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 8× NBA All-Star
Van Breda Kolff briefly coached the Phoenix Suns during the 1972-1973 season.
He coached 7 games and went 3-4 before leaving the position.
The Phoenix stint was his shortest NBA head-coaching stop.
Notable Players Coached
- Connie Hawkins
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 5× NBA All-Star
- Dick Van Arsdale
- 3× NBA All-Star
Van Breda Kolff became head coach of the expansion-era New Orleans Jazz during the 1974-1975 season.
He coached parts of three seasons with the franchise and finished 74-100 before being fired during the 1976-1977 season.
The Jazz became Van Breda Kolff's final NBA head-coaching stop.
Notable Players Coached
- Pete Maravich
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 5× NBA All-Star
- 1977 NBA scoring champion
- Gail Goodrich
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1972 NBA champion
- 5× NBA All-Star