1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Bill Fitch coach of the Rockets in the Mid 80's Passes Away at 89

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by rocketsjudoka, Feb 3, 2022.

Page 1 of 3
  1. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    54,215
    Likes Received:
    42,218
    Bill Fitch was the first coach I remember coaching the Rockets and coached the great '86 team that went to the Championship with then Akeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson, Rodney McCray and Robert Reid. He had also coached the Boston Celtics that beat the Rockets in 1980 that had Moses Malone and Calvin Murphy. In addition to that he coached the Cavaliers, the Nets and the Clippers.

    An NBA legend.
    https://www.click2houston.com/news/...itch-former-rockets-coach-has-died-at-age-89/

    Legendary coach Bill Fitch, former Rockets coach, has died at age 89

    Larry Bird once called coach Bill Fitch “by far the best I’ve seen.”

    Many of Bird’s Boston Celtics teammates disagreed. The multiple teams that fired Fitch disagreed. The Basketball Hall of Fame disagreed.

    But as time passed, the sting faded from Fitch’s Marine-drill-sergeant style (perhaps picked up from his father, a Marine drill sergeant). Appreciation grew for Fitch’s devotion to the job and success in it.

    Fitch – who died at 89 – will be remembered as one of the NBA’s all-time great coaches.

    Fitch coached the Houston Rockets from 1983-1988. Fitch coached the Rockets to the 1986 NBA Finals, where they lost to his former team, the Celtics. Houston fired Fitch in 1988.
    [​IMG]
     
    #1 rocketsjudoka, Feb 3, 2022
    Last edited: Feb 3, 2022
    rfrocket, DeBeards, Xerobull and 20 others like this.
  2. D-rock

    D-rock Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    40,743
    Likes Received:
    64,228
    RIP Coach Fitch.

    You will be missed.

    Innovator, champion and a legend.
     
    #2 D-rock, Feb 3, 2022
    Andre0087, DeBeards, Clutch and 9 others like this.
  3. jim1961

    jim1961 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2010
    Messages:
    17,516
    Likes Received:
    13,398
    For me also, Bill Fitch was coaching when I really became interested in the Rockets. Bill will always be in my memories along with those Rockets moments of that era. Thanks Bill. You will be missed.
     
    #3 jim1961, Feb 3, 2022
    dawesome, Clutch, sirjesse and 9 others like this.
  4. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    54,215
    Likes Received:
    42,218
    Considering there's a lot who don't remember the 1995 Rockets team I guess I shouldn't be surprised that many don't remember or know much about the 1986 team or how good of a job Bill Fitch did coaching them. The Two Towers idea of playing both Olajuwon and Sampson was very innovative. When the Rockets lost John Lucas II (not yet John Lucas III) putting in Robert Reid at PG was a real gamble when he hadn't played PG but mostly SF. That gamble paid out great with Reid providing good D against Magic Johnson.

    Most people also don't remember how good that Lakers team was that Rockets beat in 5 in the WCF and the Celtics team they took to 6 in the Finals. Those teams were chock full of NBA Hall of Famers and coached by the legendary Pat Riley. That Rockets team could've been a dynasty in the making if not for drugs and injuries.
     
    #4 rocketsjudoka, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, DeBeards, Clutch and 12 others like this.
  5. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 1999
    Messages:
    98,100
    Likes Received:
    40,707
    Rip coach Fitch
    The nba screwed us with Wiggins and Lloyd
     
    #5 tinman, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 3 others like this.
  6. lnchan

    lnchan Sugar Land Leonard

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2010
    Messages:
    8,591
    Likes Received:
    11,357
    David Stern sting operation... but at the same time, that probably led to them turning around their lives.
     
    #6 lnchan, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 3 others like this.
  7. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 1999
    Messages:
    98,100
    Likes Received:
    40,707
    True
    But it’s not like nobody on the lakers and Celtics didn’t do coke
     
    #7 tinman, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, raining threes, Deji McGever and 1 other person like this.
  8. krosfyah

    krosfyah Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2001
    Messages:
    7,436
    Likes Received:
    1,097
    That game is what turned me into a life long Rockets fan. I just watched the whole thing. Thanks for sharing! Awesome!

    That team was amazing. Still sad thinking of Lloyd's wasted potential. Dude was a beast.

    RIP Bill Fitch. ...but I think I could have coached that team at least to the playoffs. That team was stacked.
     
    #8 krosfyah, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 2 others like this.
  9. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

    Joined:
    Aug 27, 1999
    Messages:
    45,186
    Likes Received:
    31,151
    I remember hating it when he took over for the Rockets because he came from the evil Celtics. :D

    RIP, Mr. Fitch.
     
    #9 Dr of Dunk, Feb 3, 2022
    Clutch, raining threes, burlesk and 3 others like this.
  10. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2002
    Messages:
    56,814
    Likes Received:
    39,126
    Yes, the Rockets stunned the NBA with that upset. The defending champion Lakers were heavily favored. Heck, Fran Blinebury of the Chronicle said the Rockets couldn't beat them. Bill Fitch took what he had and out-coached Pat Riley with his innovative lineup.

    The Rockets were getting a lot of positive media coverage nationally back then. Hard to believe now, right? It's true. Ralph Sampson was a multiple College Player of the Year winner (set a record) and on the cover of Sports Illustrated several times, so when Houston won the coin flip and drafted him #1 it put us on the map. Then we did the same thing with Olajuwon the next year with another winning coin flip (which caused the league to change how they did the draft) and Bill Fitch dreamed up the Twin Towers. I can't remember who coined the name, but Bill was the perfect coach for the pair. When Bill was fired, I thought he was the "fall guy" for a Rockets ownership that was too cheap to surround what became Olajuwon's team (after Ralph's injuries) with the talent needed to get us out of the 1st round.

    Rest in peace. You certainly earned it.
     
    #10 Deckard, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, DeBeards, Clutch and 6 others like this.
  11. Pipe

    Pipe Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2001
    Messages:
    1,300
    Likes Received:
    112
    And throw the Astros cheating scandal in there as well. The big leagues like to pick and choose who they make examples of. Not excusing the drugs or the cheating, but some context doesn't hurt.

    I was a season ticket holder for Fitch's entire run and some before and after. I remember him not being my favorite coach, but to be honest I don't remember my issues with him - maybe he stuck with "his guys" a little too much for my liking. He certainly did a good job with the 86 team after the suspensions.

    RIP.
     
    #11 Pipe, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, UTSA2step and 1 other person like this.
  12. Corrosion

    Corrosion Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2011
    Messages:
    8,940
    Likes Received:
    11,396
    RIP to what should be a Houston Icon.
     
    #12 Corrosion, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 1 other person like this.
  13. Newlin

    Newlin Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2015
    Messages:
    8,099
    Likes Received:
    9,862
    I liked him. Those years with Ralph and Akeem were fun.

    Coached Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to a championship over Moses and the Rockets.

    Basketball hall of fame
    NBA Championship
    2x Coach of the year
    944 wins

    He was known for developing young players.
     
    #13 Newlin, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 1 other person like this.
  14. tinman

    tinman Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 1999
    Messages:
    98,100
    Likes Received:
    40,707
    This was the Pre-Les and Pre-Tilman days

    It

    was


    PURE
     
    #14 tinman, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, DeBeards, raining threes and 2 others like this.
  15. Sweet Lou 4 2

    Sweet Lou 4 2 Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2007
    Messages:
    37,717
    Likes Received:
    18,918
    Rest in Peace. While I was never a fan of him as a coach, I recognize the importance he played in the history of the the team.
     
    #15 Sweet Lou 4 2, Feb 3, 2022
  16. tycoonchip

    tycoonchip Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 1999
    Messages:
    7,124
    Likes Received:
    5,611
    Rip! Thank you Bill Fitch for everything!
     
    #16 tycoonchip, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 1 other person like this.
  17. Hank McDowell

    Hank McDowell Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2002
    Messages:
    6,115
    Likes Received:
    9,732
    Great coach. I think he lived up on Lake Conroe for years after he retired. I think....
     
    #17 Hank McDowell, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 1 other person like this.
  18. mac_got_this

    mac_got_this Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2007
    Messages:
    9,181
    Likes Received:
    7,849
    Either some of you are Houston historians or some of you are just old(er)
     
    #18 mac_got_this, Feb 3, 2022
  19. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    54,215
    Likes Received:
    42,218
    Yes that team was stacked but so were there opponents. That Lakers they beat had three future hall of famers and was the defending NBA Championship. The 1986 Celtic team was considered among the best ever with 4 future Hall of Famers.

    In the 80's there was as much talent in the league as now but it was concentrated into fewer teams.
     
    #19 rocketsjudoka, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock, Clutch, raining threes and 1 other person like this.
  20. rocketsjudoka

    rocketsjudoka Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2007
    Messages:
    54,215
    Likes Received:
    42,218
    A little of both..
     
    #20 rocketsjudoka, Feb 3, 2022
    D-rock and raining threes like this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Page 1 of 3

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now