List of Cleveland Cavaliers head coaches

The Cleveland Cavaliers are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers play in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The team joined the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team and won their first Eastern Conference championship in 2007.[1] The Cavaliers have played their home games at Rocket Arena, formerly known as Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Quicken Loans Arena, and Gund Arena, since 1994.[2] The Cavaliers are owned by Dan Gilbert, with Koby Altman as their general manager.[3] American R&B-pop singer Usher Raymond is a minority owner.[4]

There have been 24 head coaches for the Cavaliers franchise. The current head coach is Kenny Atkinson. The franchise's first head coach was Bill Fitch, who coached for nine seasons. Fitch is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season games coached (738);[5] Lenny Wilkens is the franchise's all-time leader for the most regular-season game wins (316); Mike Brown is the franchise's all-time leader for the most playoff games coached (71) and the most playoff game wins (42). David Blatt has the highest regular-season winning percentage (.675) and the highest playoff winning percentage (.700). Tyronn Lue is the only coach to lead the Cavaliers to an NBA championship, in 2016. Chuck Daly, Wilkens and Fitch have been elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as head coaches, partly due to their work with the Cavaliers.[6][7] Fitch, Daly and Wilkens were also named as 3 of the top 10 coaches in NBA history.[8] Fitch and Brown are the only Cavaliers coaches to have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award.[9]

## Key

[edit]

GC | Games coached

|

W | Wins
L | Losses
Win% | Winning percentage
# | Number of coaches[a]
*  | Spent entire NBA head coaching career with the Cavaliers
†  | Elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach

## Coaches

[edit]

Note: Statistics are correct through the end of the 2024–25 season.

#  | Name  | Term[b] | GC  | W  | L  | Win%  | GC  | W  | L  | Win%  | Achievements  | Reference

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Regular season  | Playoffs
1  | Bill Fitch†  | 1970–1979 | 738  | 304  | 434  | .412  | 18  | 7  | 11  | .389  | 1975–76 NBA Coach of the Year[9]
One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history[8] | [5]
2  | Stan Albeck | 1979–1980 | 82  | 37  | 45  | .451  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [10]
3  | Bill Musselman | 1980–1981 | 71  | 25  | 46  | .352  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [11]
4  | Don Delaney*[12] | 1981 | 26  | 7  | 19  | .269  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [13]
5  | Bob Kloppenburg[14] | 1981 | 3  | 0  | 3  | .000  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [15]
6  | Chuck Daly†[16] | 1981–1982 | 41  | 9  | 32  | .220  | —  | —  | —  | —  | One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history[8] | [7]
—  | Bill Musselman[17] | 1982 | 23  | 2  | 21  | .087  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [11]
7  | Tom Nissalke | 1982–1984 | 164  | 51  | 113  | .311  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [18]
8  | George Karl†  | 1984–1986 | 149  | 61  | 88  | .409  | 4  | 1  | 3  | .250  |  | [19]
9  | Gene Littles[20] | 1986 | 15  | 4  | 11  | .267  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [21]
10  | Lenny Wilkens†  | 1986–1993 | 574  | 316  | 258  | .551  | 41  | 18  | 23  | .439  | One of the top 10 coaches in NBA history[8] | [6]
11  | Mike Fratello | 1993–1999 | 460  | 248  | 212  | .539  | 14  | 2  | 12  | .143  |  | [22]
12  | Randy Wittman | 1999–2001 | 164  | 62  | 102  | .378  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [23]
13  | John Lucas II | 2001–2003 | 124  | 37  | 87  | .298  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [24]
14  | Keith Smart[25] | 2003 | 40  | 9  | 31  | .225  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [26]
15  | Paul Silas | 2003–2005 | 146  | 69  | 77  | .473  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [27]
16  | Brendan Malone[28] | 2005 | 18  | 8  | 10  | .444  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [29]
17  | Mike Brown | 2005–2010 | 410  | 272  | 138  | .663  | 71  | 42  | 29  | .592  | Eastern Conference championship (2007)[1]
2008–09 NBA Coach of the Year[9] | [30]
18  | Byron Scott | 2010–2013 | 230  | 64  | 166  | .278  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [31]
—  | Mike Brown | 2013–2014 | 82  | 33  | 49  | .402  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  | [30]
19  | David Blatt*  | 2014–2016 | 113  | 83  | 40  | .675  | 20  | 14  | 6  | .700  | Eastern Conference championship (2015)  |
20  | Tyronn Lue[32] | 2016–2018 | 211  | 128  | 83  | .607  | 61  | 41  | 20  | .672  | NBA championship (2016)
Three Eastern Conference championships (2016–2018)
2016 ESPY Award for Best Coach/Manager  | [33]
21  | Larry Drew[34] | 2018–2019 | 76  | 19  | 57  | .250  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  |
22  | John Beilein*  | 2019–2020 | 54  | 14  | 40  | .259  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  |
23  | J. B. Bickerstaff[35] | 2020–2024 | 329  | 170  | 159  | .517  | 17  | 6  | 11  | .353  |  | [36]
24  | Kenny Atkinson | 2024–present  | 82  | 64  | 18  | .780  | —  | —  | —  | —  |  |

* After coaching the Cavaliers for 41 games (with a 9–32 record), Chuck Daly was dismissed during the 1981–82 season.[37][38][39]

* Lenny Wilkens was the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1986 to 1993.

* Two-time head coach Mike Brown coached the Cavaliers from 2005 to 2010, and again during the 2013–14 season. During his first stint, he led the Cavs to their first NBA Finals appearance in 2007.

* Byron Scott was the head coach of the Cavaliers from 2010 to 2013. During the 2010–2011 season, the Cavs lost 26 games in a row - tied for the longest losing streak in the four major professional sports.

* David Blatt was the Cavaliers head coach from 2014–2016.

* Tyronn Lue was the Cavaliers head coach from 2016–2018, leading the team to the 2016 NBA Championship

* John Beilein was the Cavaliers head coach for part of the 2019–20 season.

* J. B. Bickerstaff was the Cavaliers head coach from 2020–2024

## Notes

[edit]

* a A running total of the number of coaches of the Cavaliers. Thus, any coach who has two or more separate terms as head coach is only counted once.
* b Each year is linked to an article about that particular NBA season.

## References

[edit]

General

* "Year-By-Year Finish and Coaching Records". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on December 2, 2008. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
* "Cleveland Cavaliers Coach Register". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 4, 2009. Retrieved November 29, 2008.

Specific

1. ^ a b "2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers Statistics". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
2. ^ "Gund Arena to be renamed Quicken Loans Arena". ESPN.com. August 2, 2005. Archived from the original on April 28, 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
3. ^ "Executive Bios and Directory". NBA.com. Cleveland Cavaliers. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved July 9, 2015.
4. ^ Davis, Carolyn E. (February 25, 2005). "Usher About To Become Part-Owner Of Cleveland Cavaliers". MTV. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
5. ^ a b "Bill Fitch Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
6. ^ a b "Lenny Wilkens Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 8, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
7. ^ a b "Chuck Daly Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
8. ^ a b c d "Top 10 Coaches in NBA History". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive. Archived from the original on January 19, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
9. ^ a b c "Coach of the Year". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
10. ^ "Stan Albeck Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 16, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
11. ^ a b "Bill Musselman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 20, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
12. ^ Musselman was fired 71 games into the 1980–81 season. Delaney served as interim head coach for the remaining eleven games and the first fifteen games of the 1981–82 season.
13. ^ "Don Delaney Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
14. ^ Delaney was fired fifteen games into the 1981–82 season. Kloppenburg served as interim head coach for three games before being fired.
15. ^ "Bob Kloppenburg Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
16. ^ Kloppenburg was fired after serving as interim head coach for three games in the 1981–82 season. Daly served as head coach for 41 games before being fired.
17. ^ Daly was fired after serving as head coach for 41 games in the 1981–82 season. Musselman served as head coach for the remaining fifteen games.
18. ^ "Tom Nissalke Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 9, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
19. ^ "George Karl Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on November 24, 2010. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
20. ^ Karl was fired 67 games into the 1985–86 season. Littles served as interim head coach for the remaining fifteen games.
21. ^ "Gene Littles Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
22. ^ "Mike Fratello Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
23. ^ "Randy Wittman Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
24. ^ "John Lucas Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on March 12, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
25. ^ Lucas was fired 42 games into the 2002–03 season. Smart served as interim head coach for the remaining forty games.
26. ^ "Keith Smart Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
27. ^ "Paul Silas Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 8, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
28. ^ Silas was fired 64 games into the 2004–05 season. Malone served as interim head coach for the remaining eighteen games.
29. ^ "Brendan Malone Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
30. ^ a b "Mike Brown Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved May 14, 2010.
31. ^ "Byron Scott Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on February 20, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
32. ^ Blatt was fired 41 games into the 2015–16 season. Lue served as head coach for the remaining 41 games.
33. ^ "Tyronn Lue Coaching Record". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
34. ^ Lue was fired six games into the 2018–19 season. Drew served as interim head coach for the remaining 76 games.
35. ^ Beilein resigned 54 games into the 2019–20 season. Bickerstaff served as head coach for the remaining 11 games before the season's suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
36. ^ "J.B. Bickerstaff Coaching Record". Basketball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
37. ^ "Daly, "Chuck" (Charles J.)". hickoksports.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2002. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
38. ^ "Chuck Daly Biography". Hit! Run! Score!, Inc. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
39. ^ Bill Nichols. "Activist Stepien Axes Daly, March 27, 1982". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on November 21, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.

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* t
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coaches

* Bill Fitch (1970–1979)
* Stan Albeck (1979–1980)
* Bill Musselman (1980–1981)
* Don Delaney # (1981)
* Bob Kloppenburg # (1981)
* Chuck Daly (1981–1982)
* Bill Musselman (1982)
* Tom Nissalke (1982–1984)
* George Karl (1984–1986)
* Gene Littles # (1986)
* Lenny Wilkens (1986–1993)
* Mike Fratello (1993–1999)
* Randy Wittman (1999–2001)
* John Lucas II (2001–2003)
* Keith Smart # (2003)
* Paul Silas (2003–2005)
* Brendan Malone # (2005)
* Mike Brown (2005–2010)
* Byron Scott (2010–2013)
* Mike Brown (2013–2014)
* David Blatt (2014–2016)
* Tyronn Lue (2016–2018)
* Larry Drew (2018–2019)
* John Beilein (2019–2020)
* J. B. Bickerstaff (2020–2024)
* Kenny Atkinson (2024–present)

# denotes interim head coach

* v
* t
* e

Cleveland Cavaliers

* Founded in 1970
* Based in Cleveland, Ohio

Franchise|

* History
* All-time roster
* Draft history
* 1970
* Records
* Head coaches
* Seasons
* Current season

Arenas|

* Cleveland Arena
* Richfield Coliseum
* Rocket Arena

Personnel|

Owner
Dan Gilbert
President
Koby Altman
General manager
Mike Gansey
Head coach
Kenny Atkinson

G League affiliate|

* Cleveland Charge

Retired numbers|

* 7
* 11
* 22
* 25
* 34
* 42
* 43

NBA championships|

* 2016

Rivalries|

* Chicago Bulls
* Golden State Warriors

Culture and lore|

* Broadcasters
* FanDuel Sports Network Ohio
* Cavaliers AudioVerse
* Rock Entertainment Sports Network
* WOHZ-CD
* WTCL-LD
* WUAB
* "Cleveland Rocks"
* Cleveland sports curse
* Fred McLeod
* Jeff Shreve
* Joe Tait
* Olivier Sedra
* Paul Porter
* Ted Stepien
* The Block
* The Decision
* The Shot
* Gordon Gund

* v
* t
* e

NBA head coaches

Eastern
Conference|

| Atlantic|

* Joe Mazzulla (Boston Celtics)
* Jordi Fernández (Brooklyn Nets)
* Tom Thibodeau (New York Knicks)
* Nick Nurse (Philadelphia 76ers)
* Darko Rajaković (Toronto Raptors)

|

Central|

* Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls)
* Kenny Atkinson (Cleveland Cavaliers)
* J. B. Bickerstaff (Detroit Pistons)
* Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers)
* Doc Rivers (Milwaukee Bucks)

Southeast|

* Quin Snyder (Atlanta Hawks)
* Charles Lee (Charlotte Hornets)
* Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat)
* Jamahl Mosley (Orlando Magic)
* Brian Keefe (Washington Wizards)

Western
Conference|

| Northwest|

* David Adelman (Denver Nuggets)
* Chris Finch (Minnesota Timberwolves)
* Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder)
* Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers)
* Will Hardy (Utah Jazz)

|

Pacific|

* Steve Kerr (Golden State Warriors)
* Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers)
* JJ Redick (Los Angeles Lakers)
* Vacant (Phoenix Suns)
* Doug Christie (Sacramento Kings)

Southwest|

* Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks)
* Ime Udoka (Houston Rockets)
* Tuomas Iisalo (Memphis Grizzlies)
* Willie Green (New Orleans Pelicans)
* Gregg Popovich (San Antonio Spurs)

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