Doug Collins and the Top First-Year Coaches in Philly Sports History

Congratulations, Doug Collins and the Philadelphia 76ers!  For the first time in a decade, the 76ers are the talk of the town in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

OK, not really.  The talk of the town is, without a doubt, Chase Utley's injured knee.

But the people, they are a-talkin', and they're talking about the Sixers. That is nothing short of a small miracle, which is a testament to the turnaround inspired by first-year coach Doug Collins.  

Collins has taken a team that finished 27-55 last season and he has them poised for their first winning season in six years, all without significant personnel changes.

Depending on how things turn out, Collins may join the list of the top 10 first-year coaches in Philly sports history.

Yet to Be Rated: Doug Collins, 76ers Coach (2010-2011)

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CHICAGO, IL - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Doug Collins of the Philadelphia 76ers gives instructions to his team against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on December 21, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bulls defeated the 76ers 121-76. NOTE TO USER: User e

To date, the 76ers are 34-32, but 31-23 after a horrid 3-13 streak.

Let's see how far Collins can get this team before we go ranking him just yet.

13. Rich Kotite, Eagles Coach (1991)

Not much to see here.

The Eagles lost Randall Cunningham in the first game of Rich Kotite's tenure as head coach, but he nevertheless led the team to a 10-6 record under backup quarterback Jim McMahon.  

The Eagles had to settle for the joy of knowing they'd matched their previous season's record without their star quarterback, because they missed the playoffs for the first time in four years.

12. Ray Rhodes, Eagles Coach (1994)

Perhaps no coach has been more reviled in recent Philadelphia sports history than Ray Rhodes, under whom the Eagles went from a perennial 10-win team to a 3-13 travesty.

But Rhodes first season was a smash.  After missing the playoffs in Rich Kotite's last two years with the team, Rhodes led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and back into the playoffs with Rodney Peete playing quarterback. 

11. Charlie Manuel, Phillies Manager (2005)

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CLEARWATER, FL - FEBRUARY 24: Manager Charlie Manuel #41 of the Philadelphia Phillies watches batting practice before play against the Florida State Seminoles February 24, 2011 at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Get

When Charlie Manuel took over the Philadelphia Phillies in 2005, the Phils had just come off a four-year stretch under Larry Bowa in which they were a playoff hopeful every year, but came up short every year.

Manuel led the team to an 88-74 record, the team's best since the pennant-winning 1993 team, and the Phillies were off and running.

10. Jim O'Brien, 76ers Coach (2004-2005)

In the wake of Larry Brown's departure after the 2002-2003 season, Randy Ayers and Chris Ford combined to lead the 76ers to a 33-49 record and their first missed playoffs in six seasons.  

The following year, Jim O'Brien came in and led the Sixers back to the postseason, improving the team's record by 10 games.  It would be his only year with the team.

9. Steve O'Neill, Phillies Manager (1952/1953)

The Phillies made the World Series in 1950 under manager Eddie Sawyer, but by 1952 the team was faltering, stumbling out to a 28-35 record.  

Sawyer gave way to Steve O'Neill, who improbably had the Phillies 27 games over .500 the rest of the way. He finished the season 87-67, but in fourth place in the National League.

8. Billy Cunningham, 76ers Coach (1977-1979)

Billy Cunningham replaced two-time Coach of the Year Gene Shue six games into the 1977-1978 season, with the Sixers record at 2-4.  

Under Cunningham, the Sixers went 53-23 the rest of the way and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Sixers would go on to three NBA Finals appearances under Cunningham, eventually winning it all in 1983.

7. Pat Quinn, Flyers Coach (1979-1980)

In the Flyers first year after legendary coach Fred Shero jumped ship for the New York Rangers, the Flyers had a false start under new coach Bob McCammon, going 22-17-11 through 50 games.  

Pat Quinn took over the team and finished the season 18-8-4, and led the Flyers to the quarterfinals, where they lost to Fred Shero's Rangers.

The following season, Quinn led the Flyers to a record of 48-12-20 and made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals.

6. Terry Murray, Flyers Coach (1994-1995)

The Flyers were out of the playoffs for an unbearable five seasons before Terry Murray took over in 1994 and led them to a 28-16-4 record and a first-place finish during the strike-shortened 1994-1995 season.

The Flyers lost in the conference finals that season, but two years later Murray got them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

5. Peter Laviolette, Flyers Coach (2009-2010)

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BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 13: Head coach Peter Laviolette of the Philadelphia Flyers talks with referee Brad Watson before the start of the second period against the Boston Bruins on January 11, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/

Peter Laviolette took over an underachieving Flyers team 25 games into the 2009-2010 season and led the team into the playoffs.  

Though the Flyers were only six games over .500 for the season, they stormed through the playoffs and made the Stanley Cup Finals, where they succumbed to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Laviolette's defining moment in 2010 came when he called a crucial timeout with the Flyers down 3-0 in Game 7 of the semifinals against the Boston Bruins.  

Having already rallied from down 3-0 in the series to force Game 7, Laviolette rallied his team from down 3-0 in the game and the Flyers prevailed 4-3. 

4. Mike Keenan, Flyers Coach (1984-1985)

In 1984, Mike Keenan took over a good Flyers team that had been 44-26 the previous year and finished third in their division.  

Keenan led the Flyers to a 53-20-7 record, the best in the NHL, and took the team to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to the steam engine that was the Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s. 

3. Pat Moran, Phillies Manager (1915)

After Red Dooin led a strong Phillies team to a disappointing 74-80 sixth-place finish in 1914, Pat Moran took the reigns in 1915 and led the Phillies to a 90-62 record and their first World Series appearance.

2. Dallas Green, Phillies Manager (1979/1980)

The Phillies were a mess of failed expectations and a potential lost dynasty when the team parted company with manager Danny Ozark midway through the 1979 season.

Dallas Green righted the ship, guiding a 65-67 team to a 19-11 record the rest of the way. The very next season, the Phillies finally broke through and won their first World Series. 

1. Alex Hannum, 76ers Coach (1966-1967)

Alex Hannum coached the 76ers for three seasons from 1960 to 1963 and had moderate success.  

Dolph Schayes then took over for three years before giving the team back to Hannum.

In the 1966-1967 season, Hannum led the 76ers to one of the greatest NBA seasons of all-time.  

The Sixers went 68-13 on the strength of Wilt Chamberlain, Hal Greer, Chet Walker and Billy Cunningham, and won the NBA title.