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NBA: 15 Harshest Coach Firings Of All Time

By Phil Watson

Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt (right) reacts beside forward LeBron James (23) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt (right) reacts beside forward LeBron James (23) against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Quicken Loans Arena. Cleveland won 108-98. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON – JUNE 7: Celtics owner Harry T. Mangurian, manager Red Auerbach, Larry Bird and coach Bill Fitch on June 7, 1979. (Photo by Tom Landers/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
BOSTON – JUNE 7: Celtics owner Harry T. Mangurian, manager Red Auerbach, Larry Bird and coach Bill Fitch on June 7, 1979. (Photo by Tom Landers/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

2. Celtics Fire Bill Fitch Resigns (May 23, 1983)

Bill Fitch had led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title in 1981 and a 242-86 record over four seasons, including 26-19 in the postseason, but the natives were restless in Boston after the 1982-83 season.

The Celtics were “just” 56-26 and were swept out of the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Milwaukee Bucks, losing Games 1 and 2 at home by 21 and four points before taking eight- and 14-point defeats at the MECCA in Milwaukee.

Players were grumbling that Fitch was too strict, too authoritarian for the modern era of 1980s basketball (which looks like Marine Corps boot camp compared to today, but that’s neither here nor there).

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Boston Celtics

So Fitch, under pressure from club president Red Auerbach, resigned.

He was the first coach since Auerbach to be hired from outside the Celtics’ “family” and despite his success, Fitch was never embraced in Boston, publicly criticizing popular stars such as Robert Parish, Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale.

The Aftermath For Fitch: Four days after resigning from/being fired by the Celtics (accounts vary), Fitch was hired by the Houston Rockets. It was Houston that Fitch defeated in 1981 for his lone NBA title and he got the Rockets back to the Finals in 1986 … where they lost to Boston (life can be circular sometimes). The first coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers also went on to coach the New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers and compiled a 944-1,106 record in 25 seasons. He was named one of the top 10 coaches in NBA history during the league’s 50th anniversary year in 1996-97.

The Aftermath For The Celtics: K.C. Jones, an assistant with the Celtics since 1977, was elevated to head coach as Auerbach opted to put the job back in the “family,” so to speak. Boston won NBA titles in 1984 and 1986 and reached the NBA Finals in Jones’ first four seasons at the helm.

Next: Insanely High Expectations