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Associate Head Coach

John MacLeod

MacLeod MacLeod
Coaching legend John MacLeod joined the Nuggets as a basketball consultant on Sept. 27, 2001. Following Dan Issel’s resignation in December 2001, he moved to the bench as an assistant coach and will serve as associate head coach on Jeff Bzdelik’s staff.

MacLeod served as a special assistant coach for the Phoenix Suns from 1999-01. He ranks 13th on the all-time NBA coaches win list with 707 career victories. His career record over 18 NBA seasons is 707-657 (.518).

From 1991-99, MacLeod was head coach at the University of Notre Dame. Four of his players, LaPhonso Ellis, Monty Williams, Pat Garrity and Troy Murphy, went on to become first round draft picks in the NBA. At Notre Dame, MacLeod compiled a record of 112-126 (.471) and earned Big East coach of the year honors in 1996-97. He led the Irish to two postseason appearances, including a trip to the NIT Finals in 1991-92.

Prior to his term with Notre Dame, MacLeod was called on by the New York Knicks to replace Stu Jackson as head coach 15 games into the 1990-91 season. He then guided the Knicks to a 32-35 record and a playoff berth. In New York, one of MacLeod’s players was Kiki Vandeweghe.

MacLeod coached the Dallas Mavericks from 1987-89, where he posted a 96-79 (.549) record. In ’87-88, he led the Mavs to a 53-29 record and an appearance in the Western Conference Finals, where they lost in seven games to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.

MacLeod became the fifth head coach in Phoenix Suns history in 1973 and guided the club until 1987. With the Suns, he posted a 579-543 (.516) record, led them to the postseason nine times and remains the franchise’s all-time winningest coach. In 1976, he led the Suns to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in six games. Two other times (1979 and ’84) he led the Suns to the Western Conference Finals, falling in seven and six games respectively. From 1967-73, MacLeod served as head coach at the University of Oklahoma and compiled a 90-69 (.566) record. He led the Sooners to back-to-back NIT appearances in 1969-70 and ’70-71.

MacLeod has been coaching since 1959, when he was an assistant coach at DeSales High School in Kentucky. From there he was head coach at Smithville High School in Indiana before serving assistant positions at Cathedral High School in Indiana and at Oklahoma.

A native of Clarksville, Ind., MacLeod graduated from Bellarmine College in Louisville, Ky. in 1959.