Dick Motta

The opera isn't over 'til the fat lady sings!

John Richard Motta (born September 3, 1931) is an American former basketball coach whose career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) spanned 25 years. Motta coached the Washington Bullets to the 1978 NBA Championship, and he won the 1971 NBA Coach of the Year Award with the Chicago Bulls. Motta is eighth all-time with 1,952 games as coach, while ranking 13th in wins and fourth in losses; he has the most wins of eligible coaches not currently inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 25 seasons as a coach, he reached the postseason fourteen times.

Quick Facts

Born: 3 September 1931
Birthplace: Midvale, Utah, U.S.
High school: Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
College: Utah State
Coach start: 1968
Coach end: 1997

Lore & Background

Known as a strict disciplinarian with high expectations for his players, Motta developed a reputation for putting together well-conditioned, tough, physical teams. He was known for his eccentric personality and fiery temper, which included throwing his jacket at a referee, kicking a basketball into the stands and throwing a dollar bill onto the court and demanding it to play after a GM traded one of his players for cash considerations. He retired from coaching in 1997 and ran a bed and breakfast with his wife in Bear Lake, Idaho.

Reader's Guide

Motta was hired as head coach of the Chicago Bulls in 1968 after a six-year stint at Weber State. He replaced Johnny Kerr, who had led the team to two playoff appearances despite subpar records of 33-48 and 29–53, respectively. Motta coached the team for eight seasons, coaching 656 games. From 1970 to 1974 he led the Bulls to four consecutive 50-win seasons, winning the NBA Coach of the Year Award in 1971. It did not translate to playoff success, as the Bulls won just one playoff series (1974) in that span. However, they advanced to the Western Conference Finals in the 1974–75 season, beating the Kansas City Kings to play the Golden State Warriors in a series which they lost in seven games. The team went an NBA-worst 24–58 in 1975–76. He was eventually replaced by Ed Badger on August 25, 1976.

Did You Know?

Motta is sometimes erroneously credited with coining the phrase 'The opera ain't over 'til the fat lady sings.' The first recorded use was by Texas Tech sports information director Ralph Carpenter in 1976.
Motta's 1959 Idaho high school state championship team included future NBA head coach Phil Johnson.
Motta stated in a 2026 interview that winning the 1959 state championship was his greatest thrill as a coach, even topping the NBA championship he won in 1978.