RIP Johnny Bach

As the Bulls celebrate their 50th anniversary, it's a time to look back at everyone who has made this organization so great.  Naturally, Michael Jordan made them a household name.  But it took a strong coaching staff led by Phil Jackson to turn him into a champion.  And one of the integral members of that staff was the defensive-minded Johnny Bach.

Bach, who served under Jackson during the first three-peat, died Monday of complications from a stroke at the age of 91.  The Brooklyn-born World War II veteran had 56 years of coaching experience at the NBA and collegiate levels.  He was the head man at Fordham from 1950-68 and Penn State from 1968-78.  On an interim basis in 1980 and full-time from 1983-86, he was Golden State's head coach, the last season of which featured Hall of Famer Chris Mullin as a rookie.

Jerry Krause hired Bach in 1986 to assist Doug Collins, newly hired himself.  From there, Bach instituted the Doberman defense, which was critical to the Bulls' first three championships.  Bach was also known for motivating players in unorthodox ways.  He used his military experience to drop references from there in his speeches and even dropped the ace of spades, known as the card of death, after great games.

Bach left the Bulls after the 1993-94 season for assistant jobs in Charlotte, Detroit and Washington before John Paxson rehired him in 2003.  Initially a member of Bill Cartwright's staff, Bach spent most of his second Bulls tenure under Scott Skiles and helped guide a return to the playoffs in 2005 after six straight years of missing out.  He retired from coaching in 2006, but continued to remain close to the organization.  He was only 1990-91 coach to appear at their 20-year reunion and observed practices on the sidelines as recently as this year's training camp.

Jordan released the following statement upon hearing of Bach's death:

" Coach Bach was truly one of the greatest basketball minds of all-time.  He taught me so much. 
He encouraged me, worked with me and really helped me to mold my game.  Without him, I don't know that we would've won our first 3 championships. He was more than a coach to me. He was a great friend. I am deeply saddened to hear of his passing."

Bach was as good a man as he was a coach.  Although I was too young to remember his first and more successful Bulls tenure, I still appreciated everything he did to bring the Bulls to the top.  Every time I saw him conduct an interview, he was a very respectful individual and everyone he talked to did so in great admiration.  He gave most of his later years to the Bulls, even when he was no longer an official employee.

K.C. Johnson, the Bulls' beat writer for the Tribune, tweeted out that Bach would call him after playoff games during Tom Thibodeau's tenure.  Bach would say he didn't want to take up his time (and I know how hectic a beat writer's job is), but would then stay on the phone for an hour.  Johnson was happy to hear him talk too.  That's as good a reflection on the man as any I've heard.

Perhaps it's fitting that the Bulls' official 50th anniversary celebration will take place during their first home game after Bach's death Wednesday.  Even more fitting is that the Warriors are the opponent.  It's the two NBA franchises he had the most impact on, even if one benefited more from his services.  Nothing could be more appropriate.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family during this difficult time.  He will remain in the hearts of all Bulls fans when they think of those first three titles.  And they will also remember the person he was.  Farewell, Johnny.