Butch van Breda Kolff
Van Breda Kolff, circa 1968 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 28, 1922 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | August 22, 2007 (aged 84) Spokane, Washington, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | The Hill School (Pottstown, Pennsylvania) |
| College | Princeton (1942–1946) |
| Playing career | 1946–1950 |
| Position | Shooting guard / small forward |
| Number | 11, 17 |
| Coaching career | 1951–1994 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1946–1950 | New York Knicks |
| As a coach: | |
| 1951–1955 | Lafayette |
| 1955–1962 | Hofstra |
| 1962–1967 | Princeton |
| 1967–1969 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1969–1972 | Detroit Pistons |
| 1972–1973 | Phoenix Suns |
| 1973–1974 | Memphis Tams |
| 1974–1977 | New Orleans Jazz |
| 1977–1979 | New Orleans |
| 1979–1981 | New Orleans Pride |
| 1984–1988 | Lafayette |
| 1988–1994 | Hofstra |
| Career highlights | |
As coach:
| |
| Stats at NBA.com | |
| Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Career coaching record | |
| College | 482–272 (.639) |
| NBA | 287–316 (.476) |
| WBL | 39–28 (.582) |
| Record at Basketball Reference | |
Willem Hendrik "Butch" (sometimes "Bill") van Breda Kolff (October 28, 1922 – August 22, 2007) was an American basketball player and coach. He played four seasons for the New York Knicks before becoming a head coach at Lafayette. Ultimately, he coached for eleven different teams in five classifications (NCAA, NBA, ABA, Women's Professional Basketball League, United States Basketball League). He reached the NCAA Final Four and two NBA Finals while winning a championship in four different conferences.