On this date in 1979, former Boston Celtics head coach Bill Fitch was hired shortly after his resignation from the same role with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Fitch, who had coached at a number of collegiate posts before joining the NBA as coach of the Cavs, was a former Marine drill instructor whose rigorous approach to training made him popular with incoming rookie Larry Bird, who credits the Iowan with helping instill his high-energy work ethic.
The Davenport native would win an NBA championship with the Celtics at the end of the 1980-81 season and would win his second league Coach of the Year honors for the season prior with the team.
Fitch would resign at the end of the 1982-83 season after being swept in the East Semis by the Milwaukee Bucks in four games after amassing a 242-86 regular season record and a 26-19 postseason record, good for .738 and .578 winning records, respectively.