Winter served as an assistant coach to the Chicago Bulls from the 1985-86 season through the 1998-99 season, during which time the team won six NBA championships. Most of this time was spent working with head coach Phil Jackson, starting from the 1987-88 season. He also went with Jackson to the Los Angeles Lakers for five seasons, from 1999 to 2004, winning another three NBA championships.
Winter had previously head coached the Houston Rockets during the 1971-72 and 1972-73 seasons.
Winter died on October 10, 2018 from complications of a stroke in Manhattan, Kansas at the age of 96.[2]
