Cotton Fitzsimmons became the sixth coach in NBA history to rack up 800 career wins during a 1992 Phoenix Suns victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. After playing college basketball and coaching the Moberly Junior College team and Kansas State University team, Fitzsimmons made his way to the NBA. In 1970, he led the Phoenix Suns to their first winning season (48-34). He later coached the Atlanta Hawks, allegedly to work with Pete Maravich. After Maravich was traded, he worked as personnel director for the Golden State Warriors, head coach of the Kansas City Kings, and head coach of the San Antonio Spurs. In 1986, he returned to the Phoenix Suns and won NBA Coach of the Year in 1989. He resigned after the Suns lost the first eight games in the 1996-97 season. Fitzsimmons retired with 832 wins and 775 losses making him the tenth winningest coach in league history (eighth at the time of his retirement).
Today in Sports History: March 31
PHOENIX, AZ - 1991: Head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons coaches Jeff Hornacek #14 of the Phoenix Suns during a game circa 1991 at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1991 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. BernsteinNBAE via Getty Images)