Cotton Fitzsimmons

Cotton Fitzsimmons was one of the NBA’s most respected coaches, known for his upbeat leadership and success with underdog teams. Across 21 seasons as a head coach, Fitzsimmons guided five different franchises, most notably the Phoenix Suns, where he led multiple playoff runs and developed a reputation for turning struggling teams into contenders.

Named NBA Coach of the Year twice (1979 with Kansas City, 1989 with Phoenix), he was admired for his motivational skills, sharp basketball mind, and deep connection with players and staff. In total, he won 832 regular-season games, ranking among the league’s top 15 in coaching wins at retirement. Beyond the sidelines, Fitzsimmons worked in front offices and was instrumental in shaping competitive Suns rosters throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

He was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.

Fitzsimmons's Awards and Records

• 2× NBA Coach of the Year (1979, 1989)
• 2× NJCAA tournament champion (1966, 1967)
• Big Eight regular season champion (1970)
• Big Eight Coach of the Year (1970)
• Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee (2021)
• Top 15 in NBA coaching wins at time of retirement
• Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
• Guided 5 teams to NBA Playoffs
• Known for reviving underperforming franchises into playoff teams
• Served as both head coach and front office executive for Phoenix Suns

NBA Teams

As Coach
Phoenix Suns 1970–1972
Atlanta Hawks 1972–1976
Buffalo Braves 1977–1978
Kansas City Kings 1978–1984
San Antonio Spurs 1984–1986
Phoenix Suns 1988–1992, 1996–1997

Career Stats