Bill Fitch was a head coach in the NBA for 25 years, winning an NBA title with Boston in 1981. He won 944 games, which is 11th most all-time in the NBA and was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1976 and 1980. Besides the Celtics, he coached Cleveland, Houston, New Jersey, and the Los Angeles Clippers. In his second season with the Celtics, which was also the second season for Larry Bird, the team won the NBA title over the Houston Rockets. He retired in 1998 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
Tributes to Bill Fitch
The NBA mourns the passing of Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch, an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and a two-time Coach of the Year. Bill served 25 seasons as an NBA head coach and mentored countless players and coaches. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/39TOkCTOwQ
When a NBA preseason gm between the Clippers and Hawks came to Penn State in 1997, I covered the game for the student newspaper. After the game, none of the players talked to us, but Bill Fitch did, and shook my hand after I was done. Great guy, great coach. RIP. https://t.co/fShAMkEWVs
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Coach Bill Fitch. Coach Fitch led the Falcons to a MAC Title and NCAA Tournament bid during the 1967-68 season and later became the first Head Coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. pic.twitter.com/FxcP4CiNGM
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