Atlanta Hawks: Top 5 Head Coaches
By John Buhler
May 26, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers former coach Mike Fratello during the second quarter in game four of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
125. . Head Coach 1980-1990. . Mike Fratello. 1. player
When you think of the best years of our franchise’s best player Dominique Wilkins, you think of the tremendous supporting cast that were part of these great 1980’s Atlanta Hawks teams. What often gets lost in the shuffle is how good of a coach Mike Fratello was for that era of Atlanta Hawks basketball.
In his first gig as an NBA coach, the young guy from New Jersey in his mid-30’s took his team to the playoffs five times in a very deep Eastern Conference. When Fratello coached Atlanta, Larry Bird was in Boston, Isiah Thomas was in Detroit, and Michael Jordan was in Chicago. Though he never got Hawks past the Eastern Conference Semifinals during his time as a coach, his Hawks teams certainly had the talent to win an NBA Championship some years. If only the Hawks were still in the West then…
More from Hawks All-Time Lists
Fratello had a 324-253 record as the Head Coach of the Atlanta Hawks, winning 56.2% of his games. His .450 winning percentage in the postseason given that era of the East is understandably impressive. He won Coach of the Year for the Hawk in 1985-86. In his final 5 seasons with the Hawks, he led the team to a .500 or better record every year.
I feel like the combination of regular season and postseason success, along with consistency required to compete at a very high level in the Eastern Conference in the 1980’s gives Mike Fratello the slight edge over many great coaches in our franchises history as the greatest head coach in Atlanta Hawks history.
Next: Atlanta Hawks Summer League Preview
More from ATL All Day
- Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
- Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
- Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
- Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend
- Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up