Hall of Fame NBA coach Bill Fitch dead at 89

New York — Bill Fitch, a two-time NBA Coach of the Year who guided the Boston Celtics to a 1981 NBA crown, has died, the team announced Thursday. He was 89.

Fitch, who died late Wednesday in Texas, spent 25 seasons as an NBA coach with the Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston Rockets, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

He compiled a career record of 944-1,106, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

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

After guiding the Cavaliers from 1970 through the first nine seasons of their existence, Fitch took over a Celtics club coming off the two worst seasons in its history.

He arrived in Boston at the same time as a rookie star named Larry Bird and together they led the Celtics to the 1980 Eastern Conference finals and the 1981 NBA crown, defeating the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals.

"Fitch's deep knowledge of the game, toughness, and dry wit made him a perfect fit for Boston and the Celtics," the team said in a statement.

"Fitch had already built a reputation as a turnaround artist and his ability to get the best out of his players paid immediate dividends as Fitch orchestrated what was at the time the best turnaround in NBA history.

"The Celtics family mourns his loss as we celebrate his legacy."

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

Fitch was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1976, when he guided Cleveland to the Eastern Conference finals, and in 1980 after his first season in Boston.

"Coach Fitch was a great friend and trusted mentor and teacher to