KC Jones Gets Nod Over Heinsohn to Succeed Fitch

June 1983

CELTICS NAME K.C. JONES - ASSISTANT COACH WILL SUCCEED BILL FITCH

Boston assistant coach K. C. Jones, who played on eight Celtics championship teams, fulfilled a dream yesterday, when he was named head coach of the National Basketball Association team.

Jones succeeds Bill Fitch, who resigned May 27 after four years in the job. Fitch, whose Celtics teams had a 242-86 record, had cited team owner Harry Mangurian's plans to sell the club as a key reason for stepping down.



Fitch has taken a job as head coach of the Houston Rockets.

"I thought Bill would be here forever. He turned the team around," said Jones, an assistant coach for the last five seasons. "I never envisioned that I would become the coach of the Celtics."

"He's the guy I wanted," said Boston general manager Red Auerbach. "All along I had my eyes set on K. C."

In becoming Boston's ninth head coach, Jones assumes the helm of an NBA team for a second time. In three seasons as coach of the Capital and Washington Bullets, starting in 1973, his teams had a combined record of 155-91.

The Bullets were 60-22 in 1974-75, when they lost in four straight games to Golden State in the NBA finals.

Jones, 51, agreed to a multiyear contract. Other terms were not disclosed.

Auerbach also announced that Jim Rodgers, an assistant under Fitch, had agreed to a multiyear contract with Boston and that the Celtics would seek another assistant coach who also would serve as a scout.

Jones recited a list of the high points of his basketball life - eight consecutive NBA titles as a player, another in 1971-72 as an assistant coach with Los Angeles, his year as coach of San Diego of the American Basketball Association followed by the three seasons with the Bullets, and his career as an assistant with Boston.

His appointment yesterday "rates on top. This is here. This is now, and it's a dream fulfilled," he said.

Auerbach said he didn't interview anyone else for the job, and added, "We want a guy that we feel can do the job, and I really feel that K. C. can do the job."

Late last season, Auerbach indicated that he would like to play a diminished role with the Celtics. He reportedly was talked out of it by Mangurian. Then, on May 24, Mangurian announced his intention to sell, and three days later Fitch left.

"You can't project" his (Auerbach's) future role, Auerbach said yesterday. "I'm around. I'm available. It's like a shot in the arm. It's a new situation, a new feeling, a new regime."

He added that he would be more active than he was under Fitch, who preferred extensive control over team strategy and practices. "K. C., having played for me, has a different relationship."

Jones is Boston's sixth head coach since Auerbach stepped down in 1966 after 16 years in the position. All six, except Fitch, were former Celticsplayers.

Jones is part of the Celtics dynasty that ruled the NBA with eight straight championships from 1958-59, his rookie year, through 1965-66, his next to last active season.