Bill Fitch
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | New Jersey Nets | May 19, 1932
1994–1998 | Los Angeles Clippers |
Career highlights and awards | |
As head coach: | |
Career coaching record | |
NBA | 944–1106 (.460) |
Basketball Hall of Fame as coach |
William Charles Fitch (May 19, 1932 – February 2, 2022) was an American professional
Early life
William Charles Fitch was born on May 19, 1932, in Davenport, Iowa. He attended Wilson in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he excelled in basketball.
College career
Fitch attended Coe College from 1950 to 1954.
Coaching career
Creighton (1956–1958)
Fitch was an assistant coach at Creighton from 1956 to 1958.
Coe (1958–1962)
Fitch coached Coe from 1958 to 1962.
North Dakota (1962–1967)
Fitch led North Dakota to three NCAA Division II men's basketball tournaments, including a Final Four appearance in 1966.
Bowling Green (1967–1968)
At Fitch's only season with Bowling Green, the Falcons reached the 1968 NCAA University Division basketball tournament after winning the Mid-American Conference title with an 18–7 record and 10–2 in conference play.
Minnesota (1968–1970)
In Fitch's two seasons at Minnesota, Fitch coached the Golden Gophers to 12–12 and 13–11.[4]
Cleveland Cavaliers (1970–1979)
Fitch was the first head coach hired by the expansion Cleveland Cavaliers on March 19, 1970, for their inaugural 1970–71 season. In that season, the Cavaliers went 15–67.[2] The Cavaliers did not have a season as bad as that one until the 1981–82 season, which also garnered 15 wins. The team gradually rose in wins for the next two years, winning 32 in his third season, although they slipped slightly the following year. In his first four years, they finished last each time in the Central Division.[5]
His fifth season (
The following season of
Fitch led the team to two more playoff berths, although they did not win either series.[6] After a 30–52 record for the 1978–79 season, he resigned on May 21, 1979.[2]
Boston Celtics (1979–1983)
On May 23, 1979, Fitch was hired by the
In his second season, the Celtics drafted Kevin McHale and acquired Robert Parish, both through a trade with the Golden State Warriors. Fitch's team won 62 games along with a second Atlantic title. They went on to beat the Houston Rockets in six games to win the 1981 NBA Finals, Boston's first title since 1976.[13]
Fitch led the Celtics to a third consecutive Atlantic Division title in 1981–82 while winning 63 games, although the team lost in the Conference Finals to the 76ers in seven games. The 1982–83 team dropped in wins (from 63 to 56) while finishing second in the Atlantic Division, and were defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks in four games. On May 27, 1983, he resigned from the Celtics.[14] Fitch cited Harry T. Mangurian Jr.'s announcement that he was selling the team due to difficulties with Delaware North (the owners of the Boston Garden) as the last straw, despite Fitch having three years left on his contract.[15]
Houston Rockets (1983–1988)
On June 1, 1983, Fitch was hired by the Houston Rockets, taking over for Del Harris, who had managed the team to 14 wins the previous season.[2] The 1983–84 Houston Rockets season also happened to be the first season with Ralph Sampson on the team. The team won 29 games that season. The next season was the season in which the Rockets drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, and the team responded with 48 wins and a playoff berth, although they were beaten in five games by the Utah Jazz.[2] His third season was his best season with the team as they won the Midwest Division title along with the Western Conference title after beating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.[2] They met Fitch's old team, the Celtics. Boston beat the team in six games to win the Finals.[8][2] Fitch's following two seasons led to playoff berths, although they did not advance past the Conference Semi-finals. Fitch was fired on June 6, 1988.[16]
New Jersey Nets (1989–1992)
On August 21, 1989, Fitch was hired by the New Jersey Nets, replacing Willis Reed, who had gone 26–56 the previous season.[17] The team acquired Sam Bowie on draft day in order to try and start a rebuilding process, although the team went 17–65 for the season, the fewest wins for the Nets since joining the NBA.[18] Fitch gradually raised the team up, acquiring Derrick Coleman, Dražen Petrović, and Terry Mills helping the team qualify for a playoff berth in the 1991–92 New Jersey Nets season.[18] The team went to the playoffs with a losing record of 40–42, sixth-best in the 14 team Eastern Conference. They lost in the First Round to Fitch's old team, the Cavaliers in four games. On May 12, 1992, he resigned as coach of the team.[18]
Los Angeles Clippers (1994–1998)
On July 28, 1994, Fitch was hired by the Los Angeles Clippers, replacing Bob Weiss, who had gone 27–55 the previous year.[19] In four seasons with the team, he could not reverse the tide of a franchise that had gone on a downward spiral since making the playoffs in consecutive seasons in 1992 and 1993. However, he led them to a playoff berth once, doing so in the 1996–97 season (the last playoff berth for the team until 2006), although they were swept in the First Round by the Jazz. They made the playoffs despite going 36–46, qualifying by just two games. The following season was a disaster, with the team finishing 17–65, the worst season since finishing with that same record in the 1994–95 season.[20] Two days after the season ended, Fitch was fired on April 20, 1998.[20] Fitch's most losses record in NBA history with 1,106 losses a record stood for five years until Lenny Wilkens broke his mark during the 2002–03 season while coaching for the Toronto Raptors. Wilkens' NBA coaching career finished with 1,155 losses after he announced his retirement from coaching on January 22, 2005.[8]
Fitch coached at four universities: the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State University, the University of North Dakota, and his alma mater, Coe College.[21]
During his 25-year pro coaching career, Fitch was often hired in an attempt to improve failing teams. Although Fitch currently ranks tenth among NBA coaches in all-time number of victories (with 944), he is also ranked second in all-time losses (with 1,106) behind
Personal life and death
Fitch was born in Davenport, Iowa, on May 19, 1932.[22] He attended Coe College, where he played basketball and baseball and graduated in 1954 with a degree in physical education.[23]
Fitch died in Lake Conroe, Texas, on February 2, 2022, at the age of 89.[12][24]
Head coaching record
NBA
Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland | 1970–71 | 82 | 15 | 67 | .183 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Cleveland | 1971–72 | 82 | 23 | 59 | .280 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Cleveland | 1972–73 | 82 | 32 | 50 | .390 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Cleveland | 1973–74 | 82 | 29 | 53 | .354 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Cleveland | 1974–75 | 82 | 40 | 42 | .488 | 3rd in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Cleveland | 1975–76 | 82 | 49 | 33 | .598 | 1st in Central | 13 | 6 | 7 | .462 | Lost in Conf. Finals
|
Cleveland | 1976–77 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 4th in Central | 3 | 1 | 2 | .333 | Lost in First round
|
Cleveland | 1977–78 | 82 | 43 | 39 | .524 | 3rd in Central | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost in First round
|
Cleveland | 1978–79 | 82 | 30 | 52 | .366 | 4th in Central | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Boston | 1979–80 | 82 | 61 | 21 | .744 | 1st in Atlantic | 9 | 5 | 4 | .556 | Lost in Conf. Finals
|
Boston | 1980–81 | 82 | 62 | 20 | .756 | 1st in Atlantic | 17 | 12 | 5 | .706 | Won NBA Championship |
Boston | 1981–82 | 82 | 63 | 19 | .768 | 1st in Atlantic | 12 | 7 | 5 | .583 | Lost in Conf. Finals
|
Boston | 1982–83 | 82 | 56 | 26 | .683 | 2nd in Atlantic | 7 | 2 | 5 | .286 | Lost in Conf. Semi-finals
|
Houston | 1983–84 | 82 | 29 | 53 | .354 | 6th in Midwest | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Houston | 1984–85 | 82 | 48 | 34 | .585 | 2nd in Midwest | 5 | 2 | 3 | .400 | Lost in First round
|
Houston | 1985–86 | 82 | 51 | 31 | .622 | 1st in Midwest | 20 | 13 | 7 | .650 | Lost in NBA Finals |
Houston | 1986–87 | 82 | 42 | 40 | .512 | 3rd in Midwest | 10 | 5 | 5 | .500 | Lost in Conf. Semi-finals
|
Houston | 1987–88 | 82 | 46 | 36 | .561 | 4th in Midwest | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost in First round
|
New Jersey | 1989–90 | 82 | 17 | 65 | .207 | 6th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
New Jersey | 1990–91 | 82 | 26 | 56 | .317 | 5th in Atlantic | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
New Jersey | 1991–92 | 82 | 40 | 42 | .488 | 3rd in Atlantic | 4 | 1 | 3 | .250 | Lost in First round
|
L.A. Clippers | 1994–95 | 82 | 17 | 65 | .207 | 7th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
L.A. Clippers | 1995–96 | 82 | 29 | 53 | .354 | 7th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
L.A. Clippers | 1996–97 | 82 | 36 | 46 | .439 | 5th in Pacific | 3 | 0 | 3 | .000 | Lost in First round
|
L.A. Clippers | 1997–98 | 82 | 17 | 65 | .207 | 7th in Pacific | — | — | — | — | Missed Playoffs |
Career | 2,050 | 944 | 1,106 | .460 | 109 | 55 | 54 | .505 |
Source:[25]
References
- ^ "Bill Fitch wins Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g Kasabian, Paul (February 3, 2022). "Hall of Fame Celtics Coach Bill Fitch Dies at Age 89". Bleacher Report. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (TV Series 2022–2023) - IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ "Bill Fitch Coaching Record". Sports Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Cleveland Cavaliers". Sports Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c Nason, Gerry (April 3, 2013). "Cavs Flashback: Austin Carr – Cavs Legend". Fansided. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "A look at notable NBA playoff injuries".
- ^ a b c d Feldman, Dan (February 3, 2022). "Legendary coach Bill Fitch dies at 89". MSN. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Elderkin, Phil (January 4, 1980). "The fantastic turnaround of the Boston Celtics". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Charley Rosen. "True tales from the camp fires". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 20, 2006. Retrieved December 22, 2006.
- ISBN 9780385249218. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b Goldstein, Richard (February 3, 2022). "Bill Fitch, Who Coached Celtics to the '81 Title, Is Dead at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Twiss, Jeff. "Championship No. 14 Comes to Boston". Celtics.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Fitch, in Surprise, Quits the Celtics". The New York Times. May 28, 1983.
- ^ Johnson, Roy S. (May 26, 1986). "Fitch Finds Old Habits Hard to Break". The New York Times. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Houston Rockets Fire Bill Fitch". LA Times. June 6, 1988. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Nets to name Fitch new coach". UPI. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Fitch quits to end Nets' turbulent season". UPI. May 12, 1992. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Clippers name Fitch coach". UPI. July 28, 1994. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Clippers Fire Coach Bill Fitch". AP. April 20, 1998. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Bill Fitch, Basketball Hall of Famer who led Celtics to NBA title, dies at 89". The Athletic. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "Why Rick Carlisle honored Bill Fitch with a bench at the Hall of Fame". April 4, 2016.
- ^ "Blast from the Past: The 1970-71 Season". NBA.com. July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ Robb, Brian (February 3, 2022). "Bill Fitch dies: Coach of Celtics' 1981 championship team was 89". masslive.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
- ^ "Bill Fitch". Basketball Reference. Retrieved February 3, 2022.