The NBA Coach of the Year award is an honor given annually, starting with the 1962-63 NBA season. The award is named after Red Auerback, who was one of the best coaches in the NBA, leading the Boston Celtics to nine NBA Championships between 1956 and 1966. The award is voted on by sportswriters from the United States & Canada, who each cast a first/second/third place vote worth 5/3/1 points. The coach with the most points at the end of the voting period is given the award.
No coach has ever won the Coach of the Year award in consecutive years. Only one coach has ever been given the award following a season in which his team had a losing record (Johnny Kerr in the 1966-67 season).
NBA Coach of the Year Award Winners
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2015–16 season was Steve Kerr. He led the Golden State Warriors to a 73–9 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2014–15 season was Mike Budenholzer. He led the Atlanta Hawks to a 60–22 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2013–14 season was Gregg Popovich. He led the San Antonio Spurs to a 62–20 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2012–13 season was George Karl. He led the Denver Nuggets to a 57–25 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2011–12 season was Gregg Popovich. He led the San Antonio Spurs to a 50–16 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2010–11 season was Tom Thibodeau. He led the Chicago Bulls to a 62–20 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2009–10 season was Scott Brooks. He led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 50–32 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2008–09 season was Mike Brown. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 66–16 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2007–08 season was Byron Scott. He led the New Orleans Hornets to a 56–26 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2006–07 season was Sam Mitchell. He led the Toronto Raptors to a 47–35 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2005–06 season was Avery Johnson. He led the Dallas Mavericks to a 60–22 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2004–05 season was Mike D’Antoni. He led the Phoenix Suns to a 62–20 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2003–04 season was Hubie Brown. He led the Memphis Grizzlies to a 50–32 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2002–03 season was Gregg Popovich. He led the San Antonio Spurs to a 60–22 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2001–02 season was Rick Carlisle. He led the Detroit Pistons to a 50–32 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 2000–01 season was Larry Brown. He led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 56–26 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1999–00 season was Doc Rivers. He led the Orlando Magic to a 41–41 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1998–99 season was Mike Dunleavy. He led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 35–15 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1997–98 season was Larry Bird. He led the Indiana Pacers to a 58–24 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1996–97 season was Pat Riley. He led the Miami Heat to a 61–21 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1995–96 season was Phil Jackson. He led the Chicago Bulls to a 72–10 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1994–95 season was Del Harris. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 48–34 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1993–94 season was Lenny Wilkens. He led the Atlanta Hawks to a 57–25 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1992–93 season was Pat Riley. He led the New York Knicks to a 60–22 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1991–92 season was Don Nelson. He led the Golden State Warriors to a 55–27 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1990–91 season was Don Chaney. He led the Houston Rockets to a 52–30 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1989–90 season was Pat Riley. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 63–19 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1988–89 season was Cotton Fitzsimmons. He led the Phoenix Suns to a 55–27 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1987–88 season was Doug Moe. He led the Denver Nuggets to a 54–28 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1986–87 season was Mike Schuler. He led the Portland Trail Blazers to a 49–33 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1985–86 season was Mike Fratello. He led the Atlanta Hawks to a 50–32 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1984–85 season was Don Nelson. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 59–23 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1983–84 season was Frank Layden. He led the Utah Jazz to a 45–37 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1982–83 season was Don Nelson. He led the Milwaukee Bucks to a 51–31 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1981–82 season was Gene Shue. He led the Washington Bullets to a 43–39 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1980–81 season was Jack McKinney. He led the Indiana Pacers to a 44–38 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1979–80 season was Bill Fitch. He led the Boston Celtics to a 61–21 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1978–79 season was Cotton Fitzsimmons. He led the Kansas City Kings to a 48–34 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1977–78 season was Hubie Brown. He led the Atlanta Hawks to a 41–41 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1976–77 season was Tom Nissalke. He led the Houston Rockets to a 49–33 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1975–76 season was Bill Fitch. He led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 49–33 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1974–75 season was Phil Johnson. He led the Kansas City-Omaha Kings to a 44–38 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1973–74 season was Ray Scott. He led the Detroit Pistons to a 52–30 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1972–73 season was Tom Heinsohn. He led the Boston Celtics to a 68–14 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1971–72 season was Bill Sharman. He led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 69–13 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1970–71 season was Dick Motta. He led the Chicago Bulls to a 51–31 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1969–70 season was Red Holzman. He led the New York Knicks to a 60–22 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1968–69 season was Gene Shue. He led the Baltimore Bullets to a 57–25 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1967–68 season was Richie Guerin. He led the St. Louis Hawks to a 56–26 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1966–67 season was Johnny Kerr. He led the Chicago Bulls to a 33–48 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1965–66 season was Dolph Schayes. He led the Philadelphia 76ers to a 55–25 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1964–65 season was Red Auerbach. He led the Boston Celtics to a 62–18 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1963–64 season was Alex Hannum. He led the San Francisco Warriors to a 48–32 record.
The NBA Coach of the Year for the 1962–63 season was Harry Gallatin. He led the St. Louis Hawks to a 48–32 record.