1. Lowell Gibbs "Cotton" Fitzsimmons was an American college and NBA basketball coach.
40 Facts About Cotton Fitzsimmons
1. 2.
Cotton Fitzsimmons coached the Phoenix Suns three times, was named the NBA Coach of the Year twice, and is often credited as the architect of the Suns' success of the late 1980s and early to middle 1990s.
3.
On May 16,2021, it was announced that Cotton Fitzsimmons was elected to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
4.
Lowell Gibbs "Cotton" Fitzsimmons was born on October 7,1931, in Hannibal, Missouri, to Clancy and Zelda Fitzsimmons.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons was raised in Bowling Green, Missouri, where he attended Bowling Green High School.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons's father died when he was in fifth grade.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons taught me the difference between rules and principles.
8.
Cotton Fitzsimmons worked for two years to help support the family until his sisters graduated from high school, just as his older brother Orland had done.
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In 1952, Cotton Fitzsimmons enrolled at Hannibal-LaGrange College, then a junior college in Hannibal, Missouri.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons became a junior-college All-American, averaging 25.5 points a game at Hannibal-LaGrange.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons left Missouri to attend Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons turned down an offer to play AAU basketball for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots and remained at Midwestern State after graduation to earn a master's degree in administrative education.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons decided his ambition was to become a professional basketball coach.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons accepted the position as head coach at Moberly Junior College in Moberly, Missouri in 1958, replacing Maury John.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons was named 1970 Big 8 Coach of the Year and led the Wildcats to the Sweet Sixteen of the 1970 NCAA tournament.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons then moved to the NBA with the Phoenix Suns.
17.
In 1970, Cotton Fitzsimmons replaced Jerry Colangelo as head coach of the Phoenix Suns.
18.
At first Colangelo had called Cotton Fitzsimmons and asked about other possible candidates.
19.
The relationship between Colangelo and Cotton Fitzsimmons would be lengthy, as Cotton Fitzsimmons would serve the Suns in multiple capacities, including three tenures as head coach.
20.
Cotton Fitzsimmons worked with Colangelo without any discussion of compensation throughout their long tenure together.
21.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was released from the remaining two years of his Suns contract by Colangelo to allow him to accept a similar capacity with the Atlanta Hawks on May 31,1972.
22.
Cotton Fitzsimmons returned to Phoenix to reside in 1975, although he still coached the Hawks.
23.
The Hawks traded Maravich to the New Orleans Jazz in May 1974 and Cotton Fitzsimmons was left with a young team and a rotating front office.
24.
Cotton Fitzsimmons quickly returned to coaching, becoming head coach by the Buffalo Braves, hired by General Manager Norm Sonju on August 5,1977.
25.
The Kings qualified for the playoffs and Cotton Fitzsimmons resigned after the season.
26.
On May 9,1984, Cotton Fitzsimmons left Kansas City to become head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
27.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was fired by the Spurs on April 29,1986.
28.
Colangelo and Cotton Fitzsimmons reunited in 1986, as Cotton Fitzsimmons returned to the Suns organization, joining Colangelo in the Suns' front office.
29.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was one of the driving forces behind the trade that sent Larry Nance to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kevin Johnson, Mark West and a future first-round draft pick.
30.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was criticized both by Suns fans and basketball critics after the trade; Nance was very popular in Phoenix.
31.
In 1992, Cotton Fitzsimmons became only the sixth coach in NBA history to reach 800 wins.
32.
Cotton Fitzsimmons did television commentary, joining Al McCoy for Suns broadcasts.
33.
In 1996, Cotton Fitzsimmons became the Suns head coach for the third time, guiding the Suns to the NBA Playoffs, where they lost to the Spurs, 3 games to 1.
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Cotton Fitzsimmons has since slipped to number ten in the all-time winning list as an NBA coach.
35.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was diagnosed with lung cancer later on in life.
36.
Cotton Fitzsimmons's family chose to keep his health status private.
37.
Cotton Fitzsimmons suffered two more brain strokes before it was finally revealed to the public that he was in serious condition at a local hospital.
38.
Cotton Fitzsimmons was survived by his wife JoAnn, and his son, Gary.
39.
Gary Cotton Fitzsimmons has had a lengthy career as a basketball assistant coach, scout and executive.
40.
Cotton Fitzsimmons serves as vice president and assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks.