This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Scotty Robertson, the first head coach in the history of the Jazz, died Thursday in Ruston, La., after a long battle with cancer.
He was 81.
Robertson lasted 15 games as the head coach of the expansion New Orleans Jazz, who opened their inaugural season of 1974-75 season with 11 straight losses. The Jazz got the first win in franchise history on Nov. 10, 1974, when Pete Maravich scored 30 points in a 102-101 victory over Portland. Just six days later, however, Robertson was fired. His dismissal came after a 130-104 loss dropped the Jazz's record to 1-14.
Robertson was replaced for one game by interim coach Elgin Baylor. Bill van Breda Kolff became the permanent replacement and went 22-44, meaning New Orleans finished 23-59 in its first season.
Robertson coached at Louisiana Tech from 1964-74. He compiled a record of 165-86 before going to the NBA.
After leaving the Jazz, Robertson became head coach of the Chicago Bulls (1978-79) and Detroit Pistons (1980-83).
He was also an assistant in Indiana, San Antonio, Phoenix and Miami.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.