Doug Moe, the celebrated former Spurs coach, has passed away at 87.
SAN ANTONIO — Doug Moe, the former head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, has passed away at 87, according to multiple reports.
The news was shared by the Denver Nuggets, the NBA Hall of Fame, former Spurs coach George Karl and ex-NBA player Bill Hanzlik.
Moe coached the Spurs from 1976 to 1980, leading the team to the playoffs three times, including a trip to the Western Conference Finals in 1979 against the then-Washington Bullets.
Under Moe’s leadership, the Spurs won their first-ever division title, finishing the season with a remarkable 52-30 record, the second-best in the Eastern Conference at the time.
He was eventually let go by the Spurs in 1980, and Bob Bass replaced him.
Moe compiled a 628-529 (.543) record in four seasons with the Spurs (1976-1980), 10 with the Nuggets (1980-1990), and one with the 76ers (1992-93).
He resided in San Antonio, was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, was the NBA Coach of the Year in 1988, received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018, and ranks third on the Spurs’ all-time win list.