Richie Adubato, Legendary Basketball Coach, Passes Away
The basketball community mourns the loss of Richie Adubato, a coach with a decades-long career in the NBA and WNBA. His family announced his passing on Thursday, at the age of 87.
Adubato left a significant mark on the sport, coaching teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Orlando Magic, New York Liberty, and Washington Mystics.
Let’s remember him as the fun, intelligent, energetic, and genuinely warm human being he always was.
Beth Adubato, Richie Adubato’s daughter
During his time with the Liberty, Adubato led the team to the WNBA Finals on three occasions (1999-2004), with prominent players such as Teresa Weatherspoon and Becky Hammon. He still holds the franchise record with 178 games coached and is second in wins (100).
The WNBA team, New York Liberty, expressed its gratitude for Adubato’s legacy, highlighting his impact on the organization.
Adubato also coached the Washington Mystics for more than two seasons (2005-2007).
In addition to his work on the court, Adubato was the Magic’s interim coach in 1997 and the team’s radio analyst from 2005 to 2020.
The Orlando Magic shared their condolences, highlighting Adubato’s positive impact on the lives of many.
Richie’s legacy lives on in every story and lesson he shared, a coach who turned the gym into a place of connection and joy, impacting countless lives with warmth, humor, and an unforgettable spirit.Adubato also had a stint as interim coach in Detroit during the 1979-80 season and was head coach in Dallas from 1989 to 1993.
The NBA and WNBA mourn the loss of Richie Adubato. Richie’s coaching career spanned four decades, including service as head coach of the Dallas Mavericks, New York Liberty, and Washington Mystics, as well as interim head coach of the Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic.
Before his time in the NBA, Adubato spent 18 years coaching basketball in high schools and colleges in New Jersey. He graduated from William Paterson, where he captained the basketball and baseball teams.
