Clippers Call on Fitch to Rebuild : Pro basketball: Veteran coach with reputation of helping mediocre clubs will return to NBA after two-year break.

Bill Fitch, the fifth-winningest coach in NBA history, will be introduced as coach of the Clippers at a news conference today, a source close to Fitch said Wednesday night.

Fitch, who guided the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA title and led the Houston Rockets to the 1986 NBA finals, signed a multiyear contract with the Clippers.

Fitch did not return several phone calls to his Houston-area home Wednesday.

Joe Safety, Clipper spokesman, declined to confirm or deny the report, saying, “Our objective remains the same; we will hire an experienced, well-suited and highly motivated coach.”

After taking 61 days to replace Larry Brown with Bob Weiss last year, the Clippers took 73 days to replace Weiss, who was fired on May 16. Weiss, who had two years left on a three-year deal that reportedly paid him $600,000 per year, is no longer being paid but the dispute is expected to be resolved soon.

Although there were published reports that former Laker coach Randy Pfund was offered the job and turned it down, the Clippers maintain negotiations with Pfund were never serious.

“I examined it carefully and at this point I feel it’s not quite the right situation for me,” Pfund said. “I had some interesting, good talks with (Clipper General Manager) Elgin (Baylor). He’s very aware of the situation they’re in and the challenges ahead. The discussions I had with him and how I felt about him was probably the main reason we had as many discussions as we did. He’s on top of the situation, but when it came down to it, I just didn’t feel it was right for me.”

There also were reports the Clippers were interested in George Karl, coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, who reportedly considered leaving after SuperSonic President Bob Whitsitt was forced out. However, Karl recently signed a new contract in Seattle.

Other reports said the Clippers tried to lure Brown, who guided the team to playoff berths in 1992 and 1993, away from the Indiana Pacers. But Brown, who led the Pacers to the NBA Eastern Conference finals, said the Clippers never contacted him.

The Clippers also denied a CBS report that they offered New York Knick Coach Pat Riley a lucrative deal that would have included part ownership of the team.

Fitch, who hasn’t coached since he was fired by the New Jersey Nets at the conclusion of the 1992 season, faces a big challenge in rebuilding the Clippers, who finished with the NBA’s seventh worst record (27-55) last season.

Fitch must rejuvenate a team that lost All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins, who signed a three-year contract with the Boston Celtics last week. The Clippers, who had decided Wilkins was expendable, could also lose guard Ron Harper, who became an unrestricted free agent July 1. However, Harper’s agent, Mark Termini, said Harper hasn’t ruled out the possibility of signing with the Clippers, who also are seeking a big-name free agent such as forward Horace Grant of the Chicago Bulls.

Fitch, who has been named the NBA coach of the year twice, has experience in rebuilding mediocre teams.

“I’m always interested in a challenge. . . . That’s how I’ve made my living (rebuilding teams),” Fitch said recently. “It’s hard work. You’ve got to have a plan and you’ve got to follow it. If they do that nothing’s impossible. I’ve seen too many teams rise from the ashes.”

Hired as Cleveland’s first coach in 1970, Fitch led the Cavaliers to a division title and a playoff berth in his sixth season.

Boston had won a total of 61 games in the previous two seasons before hiring Fitch to coach rookie forward Larry Bird and the Celtics in 1979. Fitch guided them to a 61-21 record in his first season and they went 62-20 and won the NBA title in 1981. They won 63 games in Fitch’s final season in Boston.

The Houston Rockets won only 14 games before hiring Fitch in 1983. However they reached the NBA finals in Fitch’s third season. In 1992, Fitch led the New Jersey Nets to their first playoff appearance in five years.

Fitch, who said that he rejected overtures from several NBA teams in the last two years, has spent much of his time playing golf, but he said he was eager to coach again.

“I’ve had other (teams) talk to me and up until now I said I wasn’t going back,” Fitch said last week. “But I’m done playing golf. You can only do that so long.”

Fitch’s work ethic and his experience impressed Clipper executives, who sought to hire a motivated coach who could teach young players such as rookie forwards Lamond Murray and Eric Piatkowski.

Fitch, 60, who has coached more games (1,722) than any NBA coach, has compiled a career record of 845-877 in 21 years. He becomes the ninth coach the Clippers have had since moving to Los Angeles in 1984.

Clipper Notes

It’s unclear if Clipper assistants Johnny Davis and Dave Wohl, hired by former coach Bob Weiss, will be retained by Bill Fitch. The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly offered Davis a job as an assistant coach.

Former Laker coach Randy Pfund said he received several feelers from NBA teams.