Larry Costello

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Lawrence Ronald "Larry" Costello (July 2, 1931 - December 13, 2001) is a former professional basketball player and coach.

He was known as the NBA's last two-handed set shooter. After playing at Niagara University, he joined the Philadelphia Warriors in 1954. Two years later he was traded to the Syracuse Nationals. He retired in 1965 from the Philadelphia 76ers, but eventually came back for the 1966-67 season after new head coach Alex Hannum told him he needed a veteran point guard. With 42 games into the season, Costello ripped his Achilles tendon on January 6, 1967 and was replaced by Wali Jones. He did, however, come back to participlate in the 1967 playoffs. Costello ended his career for the second and final time in 1968.

During his NBA career, Costello was selected to six NBA All-Star Games (playing in five). He led the NBA in free throw percentage in the 1962-63 and 1964-65 seasons.

Costello began his coaching career at East Syracuse-Minoa High School where he coached the boys varsity basketball team to the state championship for the first time in school history. He took over as head coach of the expansion team Milwaukee Bucks in 1968 and led them to the 1971 NBA championship. After a 3-15 start into the 1976-77 season, he was fired. In 1978-79 he also coached the Chicago Bulls for 56 games.

Costello's last coaching job was at Utica College in the 1980s. The school was making the transition from Division III to Division I as an independent. Costello coached one season in Division III. In his second year in Division I, the Pioneers were the 7th most improved team in the country based on their won-loss record. He retired in 1987.

Costello died on December 13, 2001 after battling cancer for more than a year [1].

Preceded by initial coach	Milwaukee Bucks Coach 1969–1977	Succeeded by Don Nelson
Preceded by Ed Badger	Chicago Bulls Coach 1979	Succeeded by Scotty Robertson