Bill Fitch, First Coach Of Cavaliers, Dies At 89

February 3, 2022

Bill Fitch, the first coach of the Cavaliers and who later won a championship as coach of the Larry Bird-led Celtics, has died. He was 89.

Fitch also coached Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson and the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost to Bird and the Celtics. He later coached the Clippers and Nets, as well as in the college ranks, including stops at North Dakota, Minnesota, Bowling Green and his alma mater, Coe (Iowa) College.

Fitch is largely credited with introducing legendary radio broadcaster Joe Tait to the Cavs. Both men were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame before they died.

Fitch introduced Tait to the Cavs in 1970, their expansion season. Fitch had heard him call small college games back in Illinois. He though Tait wasn’t too shabby. So he got him an NBA gig. At the time, it was a big pay cut for Tait.

The Cavaliers organization mourns the loss of former head coach Bill Fitch, the first and longest tenured coach in franchise history.

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 3, 2022

Along with leading the Cavs to the first win in franchise history — Nov. 12, 1970 at Portland — Fitch always entertained with a long list of coaching one-liners. The expansion Cavs had lost 15 straight before beating the Trail Blazers, then went on to lose a dozen more to start the season 1-27. They finished 15-67.

“I once said coaching a first-year team was a religious experience,” Fitch said. “You do a lot of praying, but most of the time the answer is no.”

Fitch was born May 19, 1932 in Davenport, Iowa. Before he was a basketball coach, he was a drill instructor in the Marines.

The Celtics family mourns the loss of Hall of Fame coach Bill Fitch as we celebrate his legacy.

Full statement: https://t.co/cyX22Js1oN pic.twitter.com/vgDBpttJas

— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 3, 2022

Fitch coached the Cavs for nine seasons, the longest tenure in franchise history, compiling a 304-434 record. He was the coach of Cavs legends Austin Carr, Campy Russell and the “Miracle of Richfield” team back in 1976.

He coached the Celtics for four seasons, winning the title in 1981, beating Moses Malone and the Rockets. He then coached the Nets for five years and Clippers for four more, his final year in 1997-98.

Good morning Cleveland, our franchise lost a great man and Rock that it was built on,in Coach Fitch,may he rest in peace,love u Coach

— Austin Carr (@MrCavalier34) February 3, 2022