of 68-16, the best ever record in the history of the ABA, winning the Eastern Division. Incredibly, the Colonels lost the 1972 Eastern Division Semifinals to the 44-40 New York Nets, 4-2. Mullaney coached the East team to a 142-115 win in the ABA All Star game that season. In the 1972–73 season the Colonels finished 56-28, good for 2nd in the Eastern Division. The Colonels beat the Virginia Squires 4-1 in the Eastern Division Semifinals, beat the Carolina Cougars 4-3 in the Eastern Division Finals, and lost the ABA Finals 4-3 to the Indiana Pacers. After the 1972–73 season Mullaney left the Colonels to coach the Utah Stars. Mullaney was replaced in Kentucky by Babe McCarthy. Oddly, McCarthy and Mullaney both were named co-ABA Coach of the Year for the 1974–75 season. During the 1973–74 season Mullaney coached the Utah Stars to a 51-33 record, finishing 1st in the Western Division. The Stars defeated the San Diego Conquistadors 4-2 in the 1974 Western Division Semifinals and the Indiana Pacers 4-3 in the 1974 Western Division Finals, losing the 1974 ABA Finals to the New York Nets 4-1. Mullaney coached the West in the 1974 ABA All-Star Game, losing to the McCarthy-coached East 128-112. Mullaney was replaced as coach of the Stars by Morris "Bucky" Buckwalter after that season in Utah. During the 1974–75 season Mullaney coached the Memphis Sounds, finishing with a record of 27-57 and 4th place in the Eastern Division. Their season was ended by Mullaney's old team, the Kentucky Colonels, en route to the Colonels' 1975 ABA Championship. At the start of the 1975–1976 season Mullaney was the coach of the Baltimore Claws but the team folded after a few preseason exhibition games. In December 1975 Mullaney became coach of the Spirits of St. Louis. Mullaney took the helm in St. Louis in midseason after the team opened with a 20-27 record under coach Rod Thorn. Mullaney was the final coach of the Spirits of St. Louis, as at the end of the 1975–1976 season the Spirits, along with the Kentucky Colonels, were the only two ABA teams that did not join the NBA in the ABA–NBA merger. Post ABA career After the 1975–76 season Mullaney coached the Buffalo Braves of the NBA. Mullaney was brought on board by the Braves' new owner, John Y. Brown Jr., who had previously had an ownership interest in Mullaney's