The Greatest Head Coach for the Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks started playing in the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1946 and later joined the NBA in 1949. The franchise has had five different name changes so far in its history. They were known as the Buffalo Bisons, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Milwaukee Hawks, St. Louis Hawks and finally the Atlanta Hawks in 1968. The team won their only Championship in 1958 and has had 28 different coaches over the years. The top three head coaches for the Atlanta Hawks are Mike Fratello, Alex Hannum and Richie Guerin.

No. 3: Mike Fratello (1981 & 1984 - 1990)

Mike Fratello was the 20th head coach for the Hawks. In 1981 he coached the Hawks in three games and lost all three. Fratello would get another shot in 1984, and this time he made the most of it. Fratello would go on to coach the Hawks in 574 regular season games, posting a winning percentage of (.564). His playoff resume stands at 40 games, 18 wins and 22 losses, with an overall winning percentage of (.450). He won the Coach of the Year Award during the 1985-86 season. He is one of the most respected head coaches who haven't won an NBA Championship.

No. 2: Alex Hannum (1957 (player-coach) & 1957 - 1958)

Alex Hannum is the only head coach to have brought a title to the Atlanta Hawks, doing so in 1958. Hannum was the first of only three coaches in NBA history to win a Championship with two different teams. The coach was on the Hawks sideline for 103 regular season games and won 56 of them, for a winning percentage of (.544). What really stands out for Hannum, is his (.696) playoff winning percentage with the Hawks. He ended up coaching the team in 23 playoff games. If Hannum had coached the Hawks for a few more seasons, he might have ended up at No. 1 on this list. His greatness as a coach not only remained with the Hawks, but he brought titles to other very notable teams.

No. 1: Richie Guerin (1964 -1970 (player-coach) & 1970 - 1972)

Richie Guerin won the Coach of the Year Award in the 1967-68 season. He leads the Hawks in the most regular season games coached at 619. In those 619 games, Guerin posted a winning percentage of (.529). He also leads the Hawks coaching list in the most playoff games coached with 60, winning 26 of those games. In his first season with the Hawks he led them to a playoff spot. That would become a bit of a tradition, as Guerin's Hawks made the playoffs in all eight seasons he was with the team..

THe Atlanta Hawks won their only title under Alex Hannum, but under Richie Guerin they maintained a standart of winning that puts him ahead of the pack. Richie Guerin is the greatest head coach for the Atlanta Hawks of All-Time.