Coaching Legend Butch van Breda Kolf Dies

Legendary former NCAA and NBA head coach Butch van Breda Kolf passed away on Wednesday in a Spokane, Washington nursing home on Wednesday. He had been suffering the last few years through extended illness, he was 84. Although universally known as “Butch” he was born Willem Hendrick van Breda Kolf in Montclair, New Jersey in October of 1922. Butch played for Princeton until leaving to join the service during World War II. He returned to the University and the hardwood after the war. Van Bred Kolf had a record of 482-272 as a college coach winning seven conference titles. He was not as successful in the Pro ranks as he coached 10 seasons in the NBA and the ABA and ended with a record of 287-316. He is maybe best known in the NBA for his stint as coach of the Lakers who he coached from 1967-1969. He took the Lakers to the NBA Finals twice, but unfortunately for him he faced the end of the original Boston Celtics Dynasty, and the Lakers lost both series. He was fired after the finals in 1969.