Three coaches have begun their NBA head-coaching careers (non-interim) after turning 60.
John Beilein lasted the longest.
Beilein is resigning as Cavaliers coach stunningly quick, quitting after just 54 games.
But his tenure was still longer than Dave MacMillan’s with the 1949-50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (23 games) and Jerry Tarkanian’s with the 1992-93 Spurs (20 games).
Considering his age (67), numerous problems in Cleveland and how he’s leaving, Beilein will almost certainly never coach in the NBA again. Maybe he’ll retire. Maybe he’ll return to college basketball. But the door to coaching in the NBA appears closed.
That’ll put Beilein on the unfortunate list of coaches whose non-interim NBA head-coaching careers lasted less than a full season:
Seasons are listed by end year. Coaches who took over in-season and were retained the following season are counted if their total games were fewer than a full-season’s worth. Not counted: Coaches who, back in the early days of this league, guided their teams in a previous league for longer.
Coach Year Team W L John Beilein 2020 CLE 14 40 Randy Ayers 2004 PHI 21 31 Gar Heard 2000 WAS 14 30 Jerry Tarkanian 1993 SAS 9 11 Morris McHone 1984 SAS 11 20 Don Delaney 1981-1982 CLE 7 19 Tom Sanders 1978-1979 BOS 23 39 Bob Hopkins 1978 SEA 5 17 Tates Locke 1977 BUF 16 30 Roy Rubin 1973 PHI 4 47 Earl Lloyd 1972-1973 DET 22 55 Mike Farmer 1967 BAL 1 8 Andy Phillip 1959 STL 6 4 George Mikan 1958 MNL 9 30 Chick Reiser 1952-1953 BLB 8 22 Fred Scolari 1952 BLB 12 27 Dave McMillan 1951 TRI 9 14 Howie Schultz 1950 AND 21 14 Roger Potter 1950 TRI 1 6 Albert Soar 1948 PRO 2 17 Dutch Dehnert 1947 CLR 17 20 Glenn Curtis 1947 DTF 12 22 Ed Sadowski 1947 TRH 3 9
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