Neil Johnston
Philadelphia Warriors Head Coach | Portland Trail Blazers Assistant | Hall of Fame Player
Neil Johnston was born on February 4, 1929, in Chillicothe, Ohio. He played college basketball at Ohio State University before spending his NBA playing career with the Philadelphia Warriors.
After his playing career ended, Johnston became head coach of the Warriors and led Philadelphia to the playoffs in both of his seasons. More than a decade later, he returned to the NBA as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Johnston was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1990.
Coach Johnston passed away on September 28, 1978, at the age of 49.
- Overall Coaching Record: 95-59
Coaching Career
Neil Johnston was hired as head coach of the Philadelphia Warriors on August 24, 1959.
The Warriors went 49-26 during the 1959-1960 season and finished second in the Eastern Division. Philadelphia defeated the Syracuse Nationals in the Division Semifinals before losing to the Boston Celtics in 6 games in the Eastern Division Finals.
Philadelphia went 46-33 the following season and again finished second in the Eastern Division. The Warriors were swept by Syracuse in the 1961 Eastern Division Semifinals.
Johnston resigned as head coach on March 23, 1961, finishing his NBA head coaching career with a 95-59 regular-season record and a 4-8 playoff record.
Notable Players Coached
- Wilt Chamberlain
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 4× NBA MVP
- 13× NBA All-Star
- 2× NBA champion
- Paul Arizin
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1956 NBA champion
- 10× NBA All-Star
- 2× NBA scoring champion
- Guy Rodgers
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 4× NBA All-Star
Johnston returned to the NBA as an assistant coach with the Portland Trail Blazers under head coach Jack McCloskey.
Portland went 21-61 during the 1972-1973 season and 27-55 in 1973-1974. The Trail Blazers missed the playoffs in both seasons.
The 1973-1974 season became Johnston’s final documented season on an NBA coaching staff.
Notable Players Coached
- Sidney Wicks
- 4× NBA All-Star
- 1972 NBA Rookie of the Year
- Geoff Petrie
- 2× NBA All-Star
- 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year