List of Detroit Pistons head coaches explained
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Pistons, currently owned by Tom Gores, are in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA), playing their home games at Little Caesars Arena.[1] [2]
The franchise was founded in 1941 by Fred Zollner in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Zollner Pistons, playing in the National Basketball League (NBL).[3] In 1948, the team was re-named the Fort Wayne Pistons and joined the Basketball Association of America (BAA), merging with the NBL to form the NBA one year later. After nine seasons in Fort Wayne, Zollner moved the team to Detroit in 1957 to compete financially with other big city teams.[4] In the 1980s, general manager Jack McCloskey drafted Isiah Thomas, acquired Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman, and hired head coach Chuck Daly. The 1980s team, known as "the Bad Boys" due to their physical playing style, won both the 1989 and 1990 NBA Finals under Daly. The Pistons won their third and most recent title in the 2004 NBA Finals under Larry Brown.
Since joining the NBA, the Pistons have had 37 head coaches. Carl Bennett was the franchise's first head coach, leading the team for six games, all of which were losses.[5] 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 win percentage (.715).[7] Daly and Brown are the only members of the franchise to be inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as coaches,[8] with Daly also being selected as one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history.[9] Ray Scott and Rick Carlisle won the NBA Coach of the Year Award for the and, respectively.[10] Dick Vitale was named to the Basketball Hall of Fame to recognize the work he did as a broadcaster after leaving the franchise.[11] Sixteen head coaches have spent their entire NBA coaching careers with the Pistons. Notable players and coaches who spent time with the Pistons include Curly Armstrong,[12] Red Rocha,[13] Dick McGuire,[14] Dave DeBusschere,[15] Donnis Butcher,[16] Terry Dischinger,[17] Earl Lloyd,[18] Ray Scott,[19] and Michael Curry.[20]
The current head coach of the Pistons is J. B. Bickerstaff.[21]
Key
Coaches
Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the . The list does not include NBL seasons.
Notes
- A running total of the number of coaches of the Pistons. Thus, any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.
- Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.
References
- General
- Web site: Detroit Pistons Coach Register. Sports Reference LLC. basketball-reference.com. December 4, 2008. January 4, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090104003611/http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DET/coaches.html. live.
- Specific
Notes and References
- Web site: 2008–09 Detroit Pistons Media Guide: Leadership. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 4, 2008. PDF. https://web.archive.org/web/20081227015157/http://www.nba.com/media/pistons/mg08_leadership.pdf. December 27, 2008. dead.
- Web site: Pistons History: The Palace of Auburn Hills. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 4, 2008. January 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120116132403/http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/thepalaceofauburnhills.html. live.
- Web site: Pistons: Team History. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 4, 2008. February 11, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090211145758/http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/team_history.html. live.
- Web site: Pistons: History. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20070623160931/http://www.nba.com/pistons/history/. June 23, 2007. dead.
- Web site: Carl Bennett Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192747/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/benneca99c.html. live.
- Web site: Chuck Daly Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192947/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/dalych99c.html. live.
- Web site: Flip Saunders Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192737/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/saundfl99c.html. live.
- Web site: Larry Brown Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. April 12, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100412131750/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/brownla01c.html. live.
- Web site: Top 10 Coaches in NBA History . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100119011709/http://www.nba.com/history/top_10_coaches.html . January 19, 2010 . December 4, 2008 . NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc..
- Web site: Coach of the Year. NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. December 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20100915001144/http://www.nba.com/history/awards_coachofyear.html. September 15, 2010. dead.
- Web site: Dick Vitale . Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame . December 6, 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081025021507/http://hoophall.com/halloffamers/bhof-dick-vitale.html . October 25, 2008 .
- Web site: Curly Armstrong Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. March 12, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130312212052/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/armstcu01.html. live.
- Web site: Red Rocha Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 22, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130122200448/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rochare01.html. live.
- Web site: Dick McGuire Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 15, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130115090838/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcguidi01.html. live.
- Web site: Dave DeBusschere Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117180824/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/debusda01.html. live.
- Web site: Donnie Butcher Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 25, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130125093140/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/butchdo01.html. live.
- Web site: Terry Dischinger Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117191152/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dischte01.html. live.
- Web site: Earl Lloyd Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. February 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130217065800/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/l/lloydea01.html. live.
- Web site: Ray Scott Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117200251/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scottra01.html. live.
- Web site: Michael Curry Playing Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117224052/http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/currymi01.html. live.
- Web site: DETROIT PISTONS ANNOUNCE J.B. BICKERSTAFF AS HEAD COACH . NBA.com . July 3, 2024 . July 19, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240703213342/https://www.nba.com/pistons/news/detroit-pistons-announce-j-b-bickerstaff-as-head-coach . 2024-07-03.
- Web site: Curly Armstrong Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192750/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/armstcu01c.html. live.
- Web site: Murray Mendenhall Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193039/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/mendemu99c.html. live.
- Web site: Paul Birch Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. May 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170528004554/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/birchpa99c.html. live.
- Web site: Charles Eckman Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123015453/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/eckmach99c.html. live.
- Web site: Red Rocha Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192720/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/rochare01c.html. live.
- Web site: Dick McGuire Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193121/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/mcguidi01c.html. live.
- Web site: Charles Wolf Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193052/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/wolfch99c.html. live.
- Web site: Dave DeBusschere Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192934/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/debusda01c.html. live.
- Web site: Donnie Butcher Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192840/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/butchdo01c.html. live.
- Web site: Paul Seymour Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130123001935/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/seymopa01c.html. live.
- Web site: Bill Van Breda Kolff Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192649/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/vanbrbu01c.html. live.
- Web site: Terry Dischinger Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193108/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/dischte01c.html. live.
- Web site: Earl Lloyd Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192658/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/lloydea01c.html. live.
- Web site: Ray Scott Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. April 17, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100417070908/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/scottra01c.html. live.
- Web site: Herb Brown Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192756/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/brownhe99c.html. live.
- Web site: Bob Kauffman Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192837/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/kauffbo01c.html. live.
- Web site: Dick Vitale Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193049/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/vitaldi99c.html. live.
- Web site: Richie Adubato Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. May 27, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170527190120/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/adubari99c.html. live.
- Web site: Scotty Robertson Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193025/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/robersc99c.html. live.
- Web site: Ron Rothstein Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193007/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/rothsro99c.html. live.
- Web site: Don Chaney Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192716/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/chanedo01c.html. live.
- Web site: Doug Collin Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. September 6, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100906091714/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/collido01c.html. live.
- Web site: Alvin Gentry Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130121122842/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/gentral99c.html. live.
- Web site: George Irvine Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117193148/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/irvinge01c.html. live.
- Web site: Rick Carlisle Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. July 4, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110704054401/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/carliri01c.html. live.
- Web site: Michael Curry Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 4, 2008. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192652/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/currymi01c.html. live.
- Web site: John Kuester Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. August 13, 2009. August 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100823082216/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/kuestjo01c.html. live.
- Web site: Lawrence Frank Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. December 18, 2012. January 17, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130117192927/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/frankla99c.html. live.
- Web site: Maurice Cheeks Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 10, 2013. September 1, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100901003125/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/cheekma01c.html. live.
- Web site: John Loyer Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. April 17, 2014. April 19, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014822/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/loyerjo99c.html. live.
- Web site: Stan Van Gundy Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. May 7, 2018. April 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150423121141/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/vangust99c.html. live.
- Web site: Dwane Casey Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 11, 2018. August 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110815174214/http://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/caseydw99c.html. live.
- Web site: Monty Williams Coaching Record. basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. June 2, 2023. January 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220127131804/https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/willimo01c.html. live.
- Web site: DETROIT PISTONS ANNOUNCE J.B. BICKERSTAFF AS HEAD COACH. NBA.com. July 3, 2024. July 3, 2024.