Dolph Schayes
1966 NBA Coach of the Year | Philadelphia 76ers and Buffalo Braves Head Coach | Hall of Fame Player
Adolph “Dolph” Schayes was born on May 19, 1928, in New York City. A star forward and center with the Syracuse Nationals and Philadelphia 76ers, he was among the defining NBA players of the 1950s.
Schayes became the 76ers’ head coach in 1963, guiding Philadelphia through three seasons and winning the 1966 NBA Coach of the Year award after the team posted a league-best 55-25 record.
He later led the Buffalo Braves during their inaugural 1970-1971 season and one game of 1971-1972. His NBA regular-season head-coaching record was 151-172.
Schayes was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1973. He died on December 10, 2015, at the age of 87.
- Overall Coaching Record: 151-172
Coaching Career
Schayes became Philadelphia’s coach in 1963-1964, the franchise’s first season following its move from Syracuse. The 76ers finished 34-46 in his debut year and 40-40 in 1964-1965.
Wilt Chamberlain joined Philadelphia during the 1964-1965 season, and the 76ers pushed Boston to seven games in the Eastern Division finals that spring.
In 1965-1966, Philadelphia won 55 games and finished first in the Eastern Division, earning Schayes the Coach of the Year award. The Celtics defeated Philadelphia in the subsequent division finals, and Schayes departed in May 1966 with a 129-111 record as the team’s head coach.
Notable Players Coached
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Four-time NBA MVP and Hall of Fame center
- Hal Greer
- Hall of Fame guard and ten-time NBA All-Star
- Chet Walker
- Hall of Fame forward and seven-time NBA All-Star
- Billy Cunningham
- Hall of Fame forward; rookie with the 1965-66 76ers
Schayes returned to the league as Buffalo’s first head coach when the Braves began NBA play in 1970-1971.
The expansion team finished 22-60. Schayes remained in charge for one game in 1971-1972, a loss, before being replaced by Johnny McCarthy.
His Buffalo total was 22-61 in 83 games. Combined with his 76ers tenure, that brought his NBA head-coaching record to 151-172.
Notable Players Coached
- Bob Kauffman
- Three-time NBA All-Star forward-center
- John Hummer
- Expansion Braves center and Princeton graduate
- Don May
- Former Dayton All-American and NBA forward