Led Boston to the 1981 title newly landed Larry Bird.
The world of the NBA and basketball are mourning the death, at the age of 89, of Bill Fitch, a myth of the benches and of NBA history who led the 1981 champion Boston Celtics.
Fitch has twice won the Coach of the Year award. In addition, in 1997 on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the NBA, he was chosen among the 10 best coaches of all time. He retired with a total of 944 wins, currently the 11th best record in the League.
Although he began his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Fitch made history when he guided the Celtics to the ring in 1981. So, with Larry Bird (in his second year), Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale all newcomers, the coach was forging a team legendary that would amaze throughout the ’80s, already with KC Jones at the controls. Although with Red Auerbach pulling the strings, Fitch’s role as the architect of the Celtics at the time is invaluable.
After passing through the ‘proud greens’ where he would leave his mark, Fitch returned to the finals then with the Houston Rockets of Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson in 1986. But he crossed paths with the same team that he himself helped build. Boston was the champion that year.
Despite a lot of success, Bill Fitch is the second most defeated coach in history, with 1,106.
Fitch retired in 1998 after coaching the Nets and Clippers for his final seasons. The former head coach was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019, but he did not attend the ceremony due to health issues.
The Nets (then in New Jersey) were next for Fitch, who closed out his career with the Clippers. As a sign of recognition for his work as a coach, he was included in the Hall of Fame in 2019 and to this day he has always been considered one of those responsible for one of the best teams of all time.
At the moment the cause of his death has not been disclosed.
Amelia Warner
Amelia Warner writes all the Latest Articles. She mostly covers Entertainment topics, but at times loves to write about movie reviews as well.
