Westhead, an innovative coach with a long and varied résumé across NBA, WNBA, college, and international basketball, has been named the NBCA Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award recipient for the 2025-2026 period.

His Loyola Marymount teams, especially the 1989-90 squad led by Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, stand out as the highest-scoring NCAA Division I team in history.

Westhead previously guided the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA championship in 1980, underscoring his early professional success.

He joined the Lakers in 1979 as an assistant to Jack McKinney and briefly coached the team in 1981-82 after halting the Lakers’ fast-break offense, a move that coincided with Magic Johnson requesting a trade.

Reaction to Westhead’s career has been strong among peers, with Knicks coach Mike Brown praising him as a source of insight on transition offense.

Westhead’s coaching journey began at La Salle University in 1970, where he also taught English and Shakespeare.

His tenure at Loyola Marymount returned to a fast-paced offense, a standout before the 1990 tragedy of Hank Gathers, after which he pursued various roles in NCAA and professional leagues.

The NBCA, dating back to 1976, serves as the labor association for NBA coaches and provides historical context for the award.

The Chuck Daly award sits within a lineage of honored coaches, with Don Nelson as the 2025 winner and a list of prior recipients beginning in 2009.

Westhead credits his players and the coaches he worked with, along with mentors like Jack McKinney and P.J. Carlesimo, for his coaching success.

In remarks about the honor, he thanked his family, reflected on Chuck Daly’s influence, and spoke of their friendship.

Internationally, Westhead coached Wakayama in Japan’s National Basketball League, underscoring his global coaching footprint.