Johnny Bach facts for kids
| No. 17 | |
|---|---|
| Small forward / Guard | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 10, 1924 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Died | January 18, 2016 (aged 91) Chicago, Illinois |
| High school | St. John's Preparatory (New York City, New York) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Listed weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Fordham (1943–1947) |
| NBA Draft | 1948 / Round: – / Pick: – |
| Selected by the Boston Celtics | |
| Pro career | 1948–1950 |
| Coaching career | 1950–2006 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1948–1949 | Boston Celtics |
| 1949–1950 | Hartford Hurricanes |
| As coach: | |
| 1950–1968 | Fordham |
| 1968–1978 | Penn State |
| 1979–1983 | Golden State Warriors (assistant) |
| 1980, 1983–1986 |
Golden State Warriors |
| 1986–1994 | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| 1994–1996 | Charlotte Hornets (assistant) |
| 1996–1998 | Detroit Pistons (assistant) |
| 2001–2003 | Washington Wizards (assistant) |
| 2003–2006 | Chicago Bulls (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As Assistant Coach:
|
|
| Career BAA statistics | |
| Points | 119 (3.5 ppg) |
| Assists | 25 (0.7 apg) |
| Games played | 34 |
John William Bach (born July 10, 1924 – died January 18, 2016) was an American professional basketball player and a very successful coach. He played as a forward and guard in college. The Boston Celtics picked him in the 1948 Basketball Association of America (BAA) Draft. He played 34 games for the Celtics.
Contents
Johnny Bach's Basketball Journey
In 1950, when he was 26, Johnny Bach became one of the youngest head coaches at a major college. He took over the coaching job at Fordham. He coached there for 18 years. During that time, he led seven Fordham teams to special post-season tournaments.
From 1968 to 1978, he coached at Penn State. He joined three old friends from Brown University there. Even though he led the Penn State team to five winning seasons, they never made it to the post-season.
Coaching in the NBA
Bach later became a coach in the NBA. He coached the Golden State Warriors for three years. He was an interim coach in 1980. Then, he was the full-time coach from 1983 to 1986.
In 1986, Bach joined the Chicago Bulls as an assistant coach. He became known for creating the "Doberman defense." This was a very aggressive way of playing defense. It was led by famous players like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Horace Grant. This strong defense helped the Bulls win three NBA championships in a row from 1991 to 1993.
After his time with the Bulls, Bach coached with other NBA teams. He worked for the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons, and Washington Wizards. He returned to the Chicago Bulls in 2003. He finally retired from coaching in 2006.
Life After Basketball
After retiring from basketball, Johnny Bach found a new passion: painting. In 2007, he showed 32 of his watercolor paintings. They were displayed at the Sevan Gallery in Skokie, Illinois.
His Final Years
Johnny Bach passed away on January 18, 2016, in Chicago. He was 91 years old. His funeral was held two days later at the Old St. Patrick's Church in Chicago. He had served in the US Navy during World War II. He was buried at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.
See also
In Spanish: Johnny Bach para niños
