Last Updated on July 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The NBA Coach of the Year Award is presented annually to the head coach who has had the most outstanding regular season. Introduced in the 1962–63 season, the award recognizes coaching excellence, leadership, player development, and team success.
Over the decades, legendary coaches such as Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, Gregg Popovich, Phil Jackson, Don Nelson, and Steve Kerr have shaped the NBA, while Coach of the Year winners have often led dramatic turnarounds, franchise-best seasons, and championship contenders.
What Is the NBA Coach of the Year Award?
The NBA Coach of the Year Award honors the league’s top head coach based on regular-season performance.
The award is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters and considers factors such as:
- Team record
- Improvement from previous seasons
- Player development
- Injuries and adversity
- Overall coaching impact
Unlike the NBA Finals or championship, the award is based solely on the regular season.
NBA Coach of the Year Winners by Season
| Season | Coach | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1962–63 | Harry Gallatin | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1963–64 | Alex Hannum | San Francisco Warriors |
| 1964–65 | Red Auerbach | Boston Celtics |
| 1965–66 | Dolph Schayes | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 1966–67 | Johnny Kerr | Chicago Bulls |
| 1967–68 | Richie Guerin | St. Louis Hawks |
| 1968–69 | Gene Shue | Baltimore Bullets |
| 1969–70 | Red Holzman | New York Knicks |
| 1970–71 | Dick Motta | Chicago Bulls |
| 1971–72 | Bill Sharman | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1972–73 | Tom Heinsohn | Boston Celtics |
| 1973–74 | Ray Scott | Detroit Pistons |
| 1974–75 | Phil Johnson | Kansas City-Omaha Kings |
| 1975–76 | Bill Fitch | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 1976–77 | Tom Nissalke | Houston Rockets |
| 1977–78 | Hubie Brown | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1978–79 | Cotton Fitzsimmons | Kansas City Kings |
| 1979–80 | Bill Fitch | Boston Celtics |
| 1980–81 | Jack McKinney | Indiana Pacers |
| 1981–82 | Gene Shue | Washington Bullets |
| 1982–83 | Don Nelson | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1983–84 | Frank Layden | Utah Jazz |
| 1984–85 | Don Nelson | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1985–86 | Mike Fratello | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1986–87 | Mike Schuler | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1987–88 | Doug Moe | Denver Nuggets |
| 1988–89 | Cotton Fitzsimmons | Phoenix Suns |
| 1989–90 | Pat Riley | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1990–91 | Don Chaney | Houston Rockets |
| 1991–92 | Don Nelson | Golden State Warriors |
| 1992–93 | Pat Riley | New York Knicks |
| 1993–94 | Lenny Wilkens | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1994–95 | Del Harris | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1995–96 | Phil Jackson | Chicago Bulls |
| 1996–97 | Pat Riley | Miami Heat |
| 1997–98 | Larry Bird | Indiana Pacers |
| 1998–99 | Mike Dunleavy | Portland Trail Blazers |
| 1999–00 | Doc Rivers | Orlando Magic |
| 2000–01 | Larry Brown | Philadelphia 76ers |
| 2001–02 | Rick Carlisle | Detroit Pistons |
| 2002–03 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2003–04 | Hubie Brown | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2004–05 | Mike D’Antoni | Phoenix Suns |
| 2005–06 | Avery Johnson | Dallas Mavericks |
| 2006–07 | Sam Mitchell | Toronto Raptors |
| 2007–08 | Byron Scott | New Orleans Hornets |
| 2008–09 | Mike Brown | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2009–10 | Scott Brooks | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2010–11 | Tom Thibodeau | Chicago Bulls |
| 2011–12 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2012–13 | George Karl | Denver Nuggets |
| 2013–14 | Gregg Popovich | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014–15 | Mike Budenholzer | Atlanta Hawks |
| 2015–16 | Steve Kerr | Golden State Warriors |
| 2016–17 | Mike D’Antoni | Houston Rockets |
| 2017–18 | Dwane Casey | Toronto Raptors |
| 2018–19 | Mike Budenholzer | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2019–20 | Nick Nurse | Toronto Raptors |
| 2020–21 | Tom Thibodeau | New York Knicks |
| 2021–22 | Monty Williams | Phoenix Suns |
| 2022–23 | Mike Brown | Sacramento Kings |
| 2023–24 | Mark Daigneault | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 2024–25 | Kenny Atkinson | Cleveland Cavaliers |
Coaches with the Most NBA Coach of the Year Awards
Several coaches have won the award multiple times:
| Coach | Awards |
|---|---|
| Don Nelson | 3 |
| Pat Riley | 3 |
| Gregg Popovich | 3 |
| Gene Shue | 2 |
| Bill Fitch | 2 |
| Hubie Brown | 2 |
| Mike D’Antoni | 2 |
| Mike Budenholzer | 2 |
| Tom Thibodeau | 2 |
| Red Auerbach | 1 |
Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, and Pat Riley share the record with three Coach of the Year awards.
Coach of the Year Winners Who Also Won NBA Championships
Many Coach of the Year recipients also captured NBA championships during their careers, including:
- Red Auerbach
- Bill Sharman
- Pat Riley
- Phil Jackson
- Gregg Popovich
- Steve Kerr
- Larry Brown
- Doc Rivers
- Mike Budenholzer
- Rick Carlisle
However, winning Coach of the Year and the NBA championship in the same season is relatively uncommon.
Interesting Facts
- The award has been presented every season since 1962–63.
- Don Nelson, Pat Riley, and Gregg Popovich have won the award a record three times.
- Larry Bird became Coach of the Year in his first season as an NBA head coach.
- Phil Jackson won 11 NBA championships but was named Coach of the Year only once.
- Gregg Popovich is both a three-time Coach of the Year winner and one of the most successful coaches in NBA history.
Why the Award Matters
The NBA Coach of the Year Award recognizes the strategic minds behind successful teams. While star players often receive most of the attention, elite coaching can dramatically improve team performance through tactical adjustments, player development, culture building, and leadership.
The award is often viewed as recognition for exceeding preseason expectations rather than simply coaching the league’s best team, making it one of the NBA’s most unpredictable annual honors.
Related NBA Lists
- NBA MVP Winners
- NBA Finals MVP Winners
- NBA Executive of the Year Winners
- NBA Sixth Man of the Year Winners
- NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
- NBA Most Improved Player Winners
- NBA Rookie of the Year Winners
- NBA Hall of Fame Coaches