List of Detroit Pistons head coaches

The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They play in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team, owned by William Davidson, plays its home games at The Palace of Auburn Hills.[1][2] The franchise was founded in 1941 by Fred Zollner as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, playing in the National Basketball League (NBL).[3] In 1948, the team was renamed to the Fort Wayne Pistons and joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which merged with the NBL to become the NBA a year later.[3] After spending nine seasons in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Zollner moved the team to Detroit, Michigan in 1957 to be able to compete financially with other big city teams.[4] In the 1980s, general manager Jack McCloskey was instrumental in the Pistons' future championship runs by drafting Isiah Thomas, acquiring key players like Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman and hiring head coach Chuck Daly.[4] The 1980s team, known today as "the Bad Boys" due to the physical playing style, eventually won two championships in the 1989 and 1990 NBA Finals under Daly.[4] The Pistons won their third title in the 2004 NBA Finals under the tenure of Larry Brown.[4]

There have been 32 head coaches for the Pistons franchise since joining the NBA. The franchise's first head coach while in the NBA was Carl Bennett, who coached the team for six games, all of which are losses.[5] Chuck Daly is the franchise's all-time leader in regular-season games coached (738), regular-season games won (467), playoff games coached (113), and playoff games won (71);[6] Flip Saunders is the franchise's all-time leader in regular-season winning percentage (.715).[7] Daly and Larry Brown are the only members of the franchise to have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame as coaches;[6][8] Daly was also selected as one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history.[9] Both Ray Scott and Rick Carlisle have won NBA Coach of the Year in the 1973–74 and 2001–02 season, with the Pistons respectively.[10] Former coach Dick Vitale was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in honor of the work he did as a basketball broadcaster after leaving the Pistons.[11] Fifteen head coaches have spent their entire NBA head coaching careers with the Pistons. Curly Armstrong, Red Rocha, Dick McGuire, Dave DeBusschere, Donnie Butcher, Terry Dischinger, Earl Lloyd, Scott and Michael Curry formerly played for the team.[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] John Kuester has been the head coach of the Pistons since 2009.

Contents

Key

GC Games coached
W Wins
L Losses
Win% Winning percentage
# Number of coaches[a]
* Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Pistons
Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

Coaches

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2010–11 season. The list does not include NBL seasons.

# Name Term[b] GC W L Win% GC W L Win% Achievements Reference
Regular season Playoffs
&100000000000000010000001 Bennett, CarlCarl Bennett* 1948 6 0 6 .000 [5]
&100000000000000020000002 Armstrong, CurlyCurly Armstrong* 1948–1949 (as player-coach) 54 22 32 .407 [21]
&100000000000000030000003 Mendenhall, MurrayMurray Mendenhall* 19491951 136 72 64 .529 [22]
&100000000000000040000004 Birch, PaulPaul Birch 19511954 207 105 102 .507 14 4 10 .286 [23]
&100000000000000050000005 Eckman, CharleyCharley Eckman* 19541957 241 123 118 .510 24 10 14 .417 [24]
&100000000000000060000006 Rocha, RedRed Rocha* 19571960 153 65 88 .425 10 4 6 .400 [25]
&100000000000000070000007 McGuire, DickDick McGuire 1959–1960 (as player-coach)
19601963
280 122 158 .436 21 8 13 .381 [26]
&100000000000000080000008 Wolf, CharlesCharles Wolf 19631964 91 25 66 .433 [27]
&100000000000000090000009 DeBusschere, DaveDave DeBusschere* 19641967 (as player-coach) 222 79 143 .356 [28]
&1000000000000001000000010 Butcher, DonnieDonnie Butcher* 19671968 112 52 60 .464 6 2 4 .333 [29]
&1000000000000001100000011 Seymour, PaulPaul Seymour 1968–1969 60 22 38 .367 [30]
&1000000000000001200000012 van Breda Kolff, ButchButch van Breda Kolff 19691971 174 82 92 .471 [31]
&1000000000000001300000013 Dischinger, TerryTerry Dischinger* 1971 (as player-coach) 2 0 2 .000 [32]
&1000000000000001400000014 Lloyd, EarlEarl Lloyd* 19711972 77 22 55 .286 [33]
&1000000000000001500000015 Scott, RayRay Scott* 19721976 281 147 134 .523 10 4 6 .400 1973–74 NBA Coach of the Year[10] [34]
&1000000000000001600000016 Brown, HerbHerb Brown* 19761977 146 72 74 .493 12 5 7 .417 [35]
&1000000000000001700000017 Kauffman, BobBob Kauffman* 1977–1978 58 29 29 .500 [36]
&1000000000000001800000018 Vitale, DickDick Vitale* 19781979 94 34 60 .362 [37]
&1000000000000001900000019 Adubato, RichieRichie Adubato 1979–1980 70 12 58 .171 [38]
&1000000000000002000000020 Robertson, ScottyScotty Robertson 19801983 246 97 149 .394 [39]
&1000000000000002100000021 Daly, ChuckChuck Daly 19831992 738 467 271 .633 113 71 42 .628 2 NBA championships (1989, 1990)
One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history[9]
[6]
&1000000000000002200000022 Rothstein, RonRon Rothstein 1992–1993 82 40 42 .488 [40]
&1000000000000002300000023 Chaney, DonDon Chaney 19931995 164 48 116 .293 [41]
&1000000000000002400000024 Collins, DougDoug Collins 19951998 209 121 88 .579 8 2 6 .250 [42]
&1000000000000002500000025 Gentry, AlvinAlvin Gentry 19982000 145 73 72 .503 5 2 3 .400 [43]
&1000000000000002600000026 Irvine, GeorgeGeorge Irvine 20002001 106 46 60 .434 3 0 3 .000 [44]
&1000000000000002700000027 Carlisle, RickRick Carlisle 20012003 164 100 64 .610 27 12 15 .444 2001–02 NBA Coach of the Year[10] [45]
&1000000000000002800000028 Brown, LarryLarry Brown 20032005 164 108 56 .659 48 31 17 .646 NBA championship (2004) [8]
&1000000000000002900000029 Saunders, FlipFlip Saunders 20052008 246 176 70 .715 51 30 21 .588 [7]
&1000000000000003000000030 Curry, MichaelMichael Curry* 2008–2009 82 39 43 .476 4 0 4 .000 [46]
&1000000000000003000000031 Kuester, JohnJohn Kuester* 20092011 164 57 107 .348 [47]
&1000000000000003100000032 Frank, LawrenceLawrence Frank 2011–present

Notes

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "2008–09 Detroit Pistons Media Guide: Leadership" (PDF). NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/media/pistons/mg08_leadership.pdf. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  2. ^ "Pistons History: The Palace of Auburn Hills". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/thepalaceofauburnhills.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  3. ^ a b "Pistons: Team History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/team_history.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  4. ^ a b c d "Pistons: History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  5. ^ a b "Carl Bennett Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/benneca99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  6. ^ a b c "Chuck Daly Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/dalych99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  7. ^ a b "Flip Saunders Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/saundfl99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  8. ^ a b "Larry Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/brownla01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  9. ^ a b "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.. http://www.nba.com/history/top_10_coaches.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  10. ^ a b c "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. http://www.nba.com/history/awards_coachofyear.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  11. ^ "Dick Vitale". Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-dick-vitale.html. Retrieved December 6, 2008. 
  12. ^ "Curly Armstrong Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/armstcu01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  13. ^ "Red Rocha Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rochare01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  14. ^ "Dick McGuire Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcguidi01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  15. ^ "Dave DeBusschere Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/debusda01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  16. ^ "Donnie Butcher Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/butchdo01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  17. ^ "Terry Dischinger Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dischte01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  18. ^ "Earl Lloyd Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lloydea01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  19. ^ "Ray Scott Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottra01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  20. ^ "Michael Curry Playing Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/currymi01.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  21. ^ "Curly Armstrong Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/armstcu01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  22. ^ "Murray Mendenhall Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/mendemu99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  23. ^ "Paul Birch Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/birchpa99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  24. ^ "Charles Eckman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/eckmach99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  25. ^ "Red Rocha Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/rochare01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  26. ^ "Dick McGuire Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/mcguidi01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  27. ^ "Charles Wolf Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/wolfch99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  28. ^ "Dave DeBusschere Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/debusda01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  29. ^ "Donnie Butcher Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/butchdo01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  30. ^ "Paul Seymour Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/seymopa01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  31. ^ "Bill Van Breda Kolff Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/vanbrbu01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  32. ^ "Terry Dischinger Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/dischte01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  33. ^ "Earl Lloyd Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/lloydea01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  34. ^ "Ray Scott Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/scottra01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  35. ^ "Herb Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/brownhe99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  36. ^ "Bob Kauffman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/kauffbo01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  37. ^ "Dick Vitale Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/vitaldi99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  38. ^ "Richie Adubato Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/adubari99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  39. ^ "Scotty Robertson Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/robersc99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  40. ^ "Ron Rothstein Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/rothsro99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  41. ^ "Don Chaney Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/chanedo01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  42. ^ "Doug Collin Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/collido01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  43. ^ "Alvin Gentry Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/gentral99c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  44. ^ "George Irvine Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/irvinge01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  45. ^ "Rick Carlisle Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/carliri01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  46. ^ "Michael Curry Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/currymi01c.html. Retrieved December 4, 2008. 
  47. ^ "John Kuester Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/kuestjo01c.html. Retrieved August 13, 2009.