10. Larry Brown
Larry Brown (born September 14, 1940) is an American basketball coach and former player. He is the only coach in history to have won both an NCAA national championship (1988) and an NBA championship (2004). Although his playing career included being a gold medal-winning Olympian (1964), a three-time American Basketball Association (ABA) All-Star, and an All-Atlantic Coast Conference guard at the University of North Carolina, he is most renowned for his legendary coaching career.
Brown is one of the most well-traveled and successful coaches in basketball history. Over a professional coaching career spanning more than four decades, he is notably the only head coach in National Basketball Association (NBA) history to lead seven different franchises to the playoffs. His professional accolades include being named the ABA Coach of the Year three times (1973, 1975, 1976).
In college basketball, Brown led two of the sport’s most storied programs to deep NCAA Tournament runs. He coached the UCLA Bruins to the Final Four in 1980 and later won the national championship in 1988 with the Kansas Jayhawks. This unique success at both the professional and major collegiate levels solidifies his status as one of the most accomplished figures in the sport.
9. Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens, widely regarded as one of basketball’s greatest playmakers, is a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who successfully transitioned from player to coach. Before his retirement, Wilkens held the record for the most coaching victories in NBA history, a milestone later surpassed by Don Nelson in 2010.
Although relatively small in stature as a player, Wilkens earned a towering reputation through his achievements on the court and on the sidelines. His coaching philosophy reflected his own modest personality and humble demeanor, emphasizing teamwork, unselfish offensive execution, and disciplined defensive play. This collaborative approach became the hallmark of his teams and contributed to his long list of victories across decades in professional basketball.
8. Steve Kerr
Steve Kerr (born September 27, 1965) is an American basketball coach and former player, currently the head coach of the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As he entered his ninth season with the franchise, Kerr has already established himself as one of the most successful coaches in league history. This status was formally recognized in February 2022 when he was named to the NBA’s 15 Greatest Coaches in League History list, commemorating the league’s 75th anniversary.
Kerr’s transition to coaching followed a highly successful 15-year playing career in which he won five NBA championships. He carried that winning pedigree into his coaching tenure. In his first year as head coach (2014–15), he guided the Warriors to a 67–15 record and the franchise’s first championship in 40 years.
The following season (2015–16), Kerr’s Warriors set a historic NBA regular-season record with 73 wins, surpassing the previous mark of 72 wins set by the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls—a team on which Kerr was a key player. Through his innovative offensive systems and leadership, Kerr has secured a legacy as one of the game’s great minds and remains a central figure in the Warriors’ dynasty.
7. Jerry Sloan
Jerry Sloan (March 28, 1942 – May 22, 2020) was an American professional basketball coach and former player, best known for his legendary 23-year tenure as head coach of the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). A formidable and iconic presence on the sideline, Sloan became as essential to Jazz fans as any player, renowned for his intense demeanor and commanding voice.
Sloan built a Hall of Fame career in Utah, guiding the franchise to 15 NBA playoff appearances and 22 consecutive winning seasons during his stint in Salt Lake City. His final regular-season coaching record stands at 1,221 wins and 803 losses.
With those 1,221 victories, Sloan ranks fourth on the NBA’s all-time regular-season wins list. Only three coaches in league history have more: Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, and Gregg Popovich. He also ranks fourth all-time in total games coached, postseason games coached, and playoff wins. After a prolonged illness, Jerry Sloan passed away on May 22, 2020, at the age of 78.
6. Chuck Daly
Chuck Daly (July 20, 1930 – May 9, 2009) was an American basketball coach and a legendary figure in the sport. Enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, he was named one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History in 1996 during the league’s 50th anniversary celebration. His legacy is defined by a history of outstanding accomplishments and a renowned mentorship model that continues to influence coaches today.
Daly’s coaching career spanned both the collegiate and professional levels. He led the men’s basketball team at the University of Pennsylvania before achieving his greatest success in the National Basketball Association (NBA). As head coach of the Detroit Pistons, he guided the team to consecutive NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, building the tough, defensive identity of the “Bad Boys” Pistons.
Daly also made a unique mark on the international stage. In 1992, he was chosen to lead the United States men’s Olympic basketball team, famously known as the “Dream Team,” to a gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Olympics. This achievement made him the first head coach to win both an NBA championship and an Olympic gold medal, solidifying his status as one of the game’s all-time greats.
5. Red Holzman
No player for the New York Knicks will ever wear the number 613. In 1990, the franchise retired that number in honor of Red Holzman, who recorded 613 coaching victories with the team—the most in Knicks history.
Holzman spent six seasons as a player in the NBA and later served as a Knicks executive, but he is best remembered for his role as head coach. Over 14 seasons on the sidelines, he guided the Knicks to two NBA championships, first in the 1969–70 season and again in 1972–73.
His leadership, defensive emphasis, and team-oriented philosophy defined one of the most successful eras in franchise history, ensuring his legacy as one of the greatest figures ever associated with Madison Square Garden.
4. Gregg Popovich
Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, with his career defined by sustained success and adaptability. Over 26 seasons with the Spurs, Popovich won five NBA championships and led the franchise to 22 consecutive playoff appearances, the longest streak in league history. He has also been named NBA Coach of the Year three times.
Popovich’s coaching philosophy emphasized player development, teamwork, and adaptability, enabling him to maximize the potential of his rosters and elevate many players beyond expectations. His longevity and consistency are unmatched, as he guided teams across multiple basketball eras—from the dominance of Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, through the rise of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, to the modern era of Kevin Durant and the Golden State Warriors dynasty.
Adapting to the league’s evolving styles of play across three decades, while remaining a championship contender, has cemented Popovich’s reputation as one of the most innovative and influential figures in professional basketball.
3. Pat Riley
Pat Riley is one of the most accomplished figures in NBA history, having led teams to five championships as a head coach, most recently with the Miami Heat in 2006. After retiring from coaching, he transitioned into the role of team president of the Miami Heat, where he continues to shape the franchise’s success.
Riley began his head coaching career with the Los Angeles Lakers, guiding the team to four consecutive NBA Finals appearances during the Showtime era of the 1980s and winning multiple championships. His excellence was recognized in 1990, when he earned his first NBA Coach of the Year Award.
In 1991, Riley became head coach of the New York Knicks, where he implemented a hard-nosed, defensive identity and led the franchise to one of its most successful seasons, earning his second Coach of the Year honor.
Riley’s leadership, adaptability, and championship pedigree have made him a defining figure across multiple decades of the NBA, both on the sidelines and in the front office.
2. Red Auerbach
Arnold “Red” Auerbach (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was an American basketball coach and executive, most renowned for his transformative leadership of the Boston Celtics. From 1950 to 1966, he served as the head coach, leading the franchise to nine National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. This historic run included a record eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966, a feat unmatched in North American professional sports.
Auerbach’s coaching record with the Celtics was 1,037 wins and 548 losses, making him the first coach in NBA history to reach 1,000 victories. For his unparalleled success, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1968. In a 1980 poll by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America, he was voted the greatest coach in NBA history.
Following his retirement from coaching, Auerbach transitioned to the role of general manager (1966–1984) and later team president. His shrewd management continued the Celtics’ dynasty, as he built teams that won an additional six NBA championships, solidifying his legacy as the foremost architect of one of sports’ most successful franchises.
1. Phil Jackson
Phil Jackson holds the record for the most championships by a head coach in NBA history, with 11 titles. Known as the “three-peat king,” Jackson became synonymous with sustained excellence and dynasty building.
He first achieved success with the Chicago Bulls, guiding the team to three consecutive championships from 1991 to 1993, and repeating the feat with another three-peat from 1996 to 1998. After his tenure in Chicago, Jackson moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he led the franchise to a third consecutive title run from 2000 to 2002, marking his unprecedented “triple-triple” of three separate three-peats. Jackson later added two more championships with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, bringing his total to 11.
Beyond his postseason dominance, Jackson also ranks among the most successful regular-season coaches in NBA history. He compiled 1,155 career victories and holds the highest regular-season winning percentage of any coach, at .704. His innovative use of the triangle offense and ability to manage superstar players cemented his reputation as one of the greatest basketball minds of all time.