“Most people think that you just throw out the ball and let them play in the NBA. I don’t think that’s true. You have to do a lot of coaching in this league. If I didn’t think that was true, then I wouldn’t have accepted this job.”

And that’s the way the Phoenix Suns new coach, Lowell “Cotton” Fitzsimmons, views the game of basketball and the way he plans to conduct it in Phoenix.

He hasn’t disappointed anyone.

From the start of rookie camp, when Cotton took over the controls of his first professional team, even a casual observer could tell that he meant exactly what he said about coaching in this league.

His all out drive and hustle carried over to the regular training camp and although he had a lot of the veterans grumbling, they all agreed that the man knew the game of basketball and what he wanted to do with them and it.

In 11 years as a head coach, two at Kansas State University and nine at Moberly (Mo.) Junior College, the 38 year old Fitzsimmons has compiled an impressive record of 258 victories against 78 losses.

“After interviewing numerous top college coaches it became evident that Fitzsimmons was exactly the type of coach I was looking for-a fiery competitor and a man looking forward to a big challenge,” said Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo on Fitzsimmons’ appointment.

“He enjoys a tremendous amount of respect from coaches and players around the country and we are in complete agreement regarding basketball philosophy and what it takes to win in the NBA,” Colangelo continued.

Last year Cotton’s KSU team was a preseason pick for sixth in the Big Eight, but copped the league title. With an overall record of 20-8, they battled their way into the NCAA playoffs. The Kansas State five fought strong New Mexico State down to the wire in the NCAA tournament semi-finals before bowing to the Aggie quintet.

That impressive showing in the Big Eight earned him Coach of the Year honors in that league.

Born in Hannibal, Mo., Fitzsimmons was an All-America guard at Hannibal-LaGrange Junior College in ’53 before acquiring his bachelor and masters degrees at Midwestern University in Texas.

Fitzsimmons’ initial head coaching post was at Moberly JC in ’58. In 1967-68 his charges hit the peak by capturing the NJCAA title and during his nine year stand at the JC, Cotton’s teams won 224 games while losing only 58.

Regarding his approach to basketball, Fitzsimmons replied, “The aim of the game, of course, is win and the trend to the appointment of college coaches in the NBA denotes a fresh approach.”