Since their foundation in 1995, the Toronto Raptors have had various leaders. Here’s the Toronto Raptors’ coach history, from their debut NBA season to now.
The Toronto Raptors joined the NBA in 1995 and have served as Canada’s only representative in the league for 30 years. In that time, they’ve won an NBA Championship and an Eastern Conference title, both in 2019, as well as seven division titles.
While the lion’s share of attention often goes to the players who led the Raptors to their success, such as Kawhi Leonard and DeMar DeRozan, the team has also been led by 10 head coaches since their formation. We’ll be looking at the Toronto Raptors’ head coach history since their debut season, providing details about each coach’s success with the team. Read on to learn more about Toronto Raptors coaches of the past and present.
Who currently coaches the Toronto Raptors?
Darko Rajaković is the head coach of the Toronto Raptors for the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. He began his coaching career at the age of 16 in his home country of Serbia, and has since served as an assistant coach for other NBA teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, and Memphis Grizzlies. He took over coaching duties from Nick Nurse in 2023.
Who has previously coached the Toronto Raptors?
Which coaches came before Rajaković, and who led the team to their greatest success? Let’s take a look at the other head coaches since their 1995 debut:
2018-2023: Nick Nurse
Nick Nurse was promoted from assistant coach to head coach for the Raptors in 2018 and led the team to new heights. It was during his tenure that the franchise won their first NBA title, beating the Golden State Warriors 4-2 in the 2019 Finals. Given the context of the Warriors’ incredible run of dominance at the time, in which they’d reached the Finals the previous four seasons (winning three times), this was an outstanding achievement.
He was also named Coach of the Year after his 2019-20 season, and has the highest win percentage of any Raptors head coach (58.2%).
2011-2018: Dwane Casey
A former NCAA College Basketball Champion in 1978, Dwane Casey had previously worked as the Minnesota Timberwolves’s head coach from 2005 to 2007. After his role as assistant coach for 2011 NBA Champions, the Dallas Mavericks, he took over duties for the Raptors. Impressively, he earned the Coach of the Year award in 2018 and was the first Raptors coach in history chosen for the All-Star game.
2009-2011: Jay Triano
After serving as an assistant coach for six years, Jay Triano was named interim head coach after Sam Mitchell was fired in December 2008 – and was the first Canadian-born NBA coach in history. However, after losing their star player Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat in free agency, Triano finished the 2010-11 season with a 22-60 record and his contract was not renewed.
2004-2008: Sam Mitchell
After playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Indiana Pacers, Sam Mitchell retired in 2002 to assume an assistant coach role for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was picked up by the Raptors in 2004, and in 2007 became the first Raptors head coach in history to win the NBA Coach of the Year award. He was relieved of his coaching duties after a disappointing start to the 2008-09 season.
2003-2004: Kevin O’Neill
In his sole year as an NBA head coach, Kevin O’Neill led the Raptors through a relatively rocky patch. The team started the season with a 25-25 record in their first 50 games, but finished in disappointing fashion after missing a playoff spot by three wins. He was fired following controversial comments, which led some to speculate he wasn’t committed to winning.
2000-2003: Lenny Wilkens
The Raptors opened the new millennium with Lenny Wilkens as their head coach. Although he found greater success with other teams, Wilkens was named as one of the Top 10 Coaches in NBA History by the league in 1996, making him a prestigious hire for the Raptors. The 2000 playoffs saw Toronto earn their first ever postseason victory, but when their 2002-03 was affected by injuries he was let go.
1997-2000: Butch Carter
Midway through the 1997-98 season, Darrell Walker resigned following record lows for the Raptors at the time. Butch Carter was promoted to an interim coach role to replace him, and remained with the team until 2000. During his tenure, he played a key role in developing future stars such as Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter – and the latter was named Rookie of the Year for the Raptors in 1999.
1996-1997: Darrell Walker
Following an underwhelming debut season, Darrell Walker was promoted from his assistant coach role to a head coach position. An NBA champion as a player with the ‘93 Chicago Bulls, Walker improved the Raptors’ win percentage but underperformed in the first half of the 1997-98 season. He was let go from the team, and would later take up a head coaching role for the Washington Wizards.
1995-1996: Brendan Malone
The first Toronto Raptors head coach in history was Brendan Malone, who had been assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons during two of their NBA Championship winning seasons. Malone struggled to get a young Raptors roster out of the starting blocks in their debut season, finishing with a 21-61 record. Notably, though, his Raptors squad handed the eventual champions, the Chicago Bulls, a rare loss.
Who is the best Toronto Raptors coach in history?
The most successful Toronto Raptors coach was Nick Nurse, who gave the team their first and only NBA Championship – so far – in 2019. He also has the highest win percentage of any Raptors coach in history, and was named Coach of the Year in 2020.
Other successful Raptors coaches include Dwane Casey, who played a key role in developing some of the best players of the 2010s, and Sam Mitchell, who earned the coveted Coach of the Year award.
Who is the longest serving Toronto Raptors coach in history?
Dwane Casey served as the Raptors’ head coach from 2011 to 2018. His seven years at the franchise’s helm make him the head coach to have held the role for the longest. What’s more, his development of star players and refreshing outlook on the team’s success were crucial in setting Toronto up for their iconic 2019 NBA title win the year after his departure.
Looking for a new way to enjoy your NBA viewing experience? Discover all the latest NBA odds on all the biggest games – or read our Betway Insider blog for NBA betting tips and the latest news. Meanwhile, stay ahead of the game with the Betway Sports app! Download it now from the Play Store or the App Store to enjoy live betting, real-time updates, and exclusive offers right at your fingertips.
