Richie Adubato held a variety of roles in professional basketball, including head coaching tenures with the New York Liberty and Orlando Magic.
The Orlando Magic announced the passing of former head coach Richie Adubato on Friday. Adubato had served as the team’s interim boss during the 1996-97 season.
“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 unforgettable spirit,” a statement from the Magic’s ownership group, the DeVos family, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Carol, and the entire Adubato family.”
Adubato was a sideline staple in major professional basketball for three decades, a tenure that began as an assistant on Dick Vitale’s staff with the Detroit Pistons in 1979. He would wind up finishing the 1979-80 season at the helm after Vitale’s early firing, posting a 12-58 mark the rest of the way.
Adubato would have more success at other head coaching stops, his longest in the men’s division being a four-year term with the Dallas Mavericks. In his debut year, which saw him take over for John MacLeod 11 games into the 1989-90 season, Adubato posted a 42-29 record and guided the Mavericks to the playoffs despite losing both Adrian Dantley and Roy Tarpley for extended periods. Adubato spent three more seasons with the Mavericks but never returned to the playoffs.
How Abubato Found Success in The WNBA
In addition to his head coaching stints, Adubato was also an assistant coach with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. He was on the Magic’s staff during the team’s memorable run to the 1995 NBA Finals, two years before he coached the final 33 games of the 1996-97 season in place of the ousted Brian Hill. He guided Orlando to a 21-12 record in that span before taking the second-ranked Miami Heat to the brink in the ensuing postseason.
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) November 7, 2025
Adubato later found success in the WNBA, returning to Madison Square Garden to lead the New York Liberty in 1999. Under Adubato’s six-season watch (1999-2004), the Liberty reached the WNBA Finals on three occasions. Adubato amassed 100 wins at the helm of the Liberty, setting a franchise record that stood until Sandy Brondello broke that mark last summer. After departing the Liberty early in the 2004 season, Adubato found his final head coaching job with the Washington Mystics for two-plus tours (2005-07).
Thereafter, Adubato stayed close to the Magic, serving as the team’s primary radio color commentator for over a decade-and-a-half alongside play-by-play man Dennis Neumann. In 2020, Adubato penned his memoir “
Adubato is survived by his wife, Carol.
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