Dave DeBusschere
Detroit Pistons Player-Coach | Youngest Head Coach in NBA History at Appointment | Two-Time NBA Champion as Player
Dave DeBusschere was born on October 16, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan. A standout at the University of Detroit, he pursued both professional baseball and basketball before establishing himself as one of the NBA’s leading defensive forwards.
In November 1964, the Pistons appointed the 24-year-old DeBusschere as player-coach, making him the youngest head coach in league history at the time. He handled coaching responsibilities while continuing to play for Detroit.
He went 79-143 as Pistons head coach between 1964-1965 and 1966-1967. After returning to a full-time playing role, DeBusschere was traded to New York and won NBA championships with the Knicks in 1970 and 1973.
Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1983, he died on May 14, 2003, aged 62.
- Overall Coaching Record: 79-143
Coaching Career
DeBusschere took over from Charles Wolf early in the 1964-1965 season and finished that campaign 29-40 as head coach.
He remained on the bench for the full 1965-1966 schedule, recording 22-58, and directed the first 73 games of 1966-1967 with a 28-45 mark.
On March 7, 1967, he relinquished the coaching position to Donnie Butcher while continuing to play. His 222 regular-season games as head coach produced 79 wins and 143 losses, with no playoff appearances during the tenure.
Notable Players Coached
- Dave Bing
- 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year and Hall of Fame guard
- Bailey Howell
- Six-time NBA All-Star; later two-time NBA champion
- Don Ohl
- Five-time NBA All-Star guard
- Eddie Miles
- 1966 NBA All-Star guard