FITCH STABLE AFTER HEART SURGERY : RECOVERY EXPECTED TO TAKE 4-6 WEEKS.

Byline: Gary Washburn Daily News Staff Writer

The basketball future of Clippers coach Bill Fitch is in doubt after the 62-year-old underwent emergency triple-bypass surgery Thursday night in Conroe, Tex.

Fitch is listed in stable condition after surgery performed by Dr. Connie Hutton at the Columbia Conroe Regional Medical Center near Houston.

Fitch felt chest pains at home late Thursday and checked into Columbia. He was first given an angiogram but when it was determined that an angioplasty - the same procedure of cleaning out arteries performed on former Dodgers manager Tom Lasorda - was not sufficient, Fitch had the triple bypass.

Clippers team doctor Tony Daly said Fitch's chest pains were probably ``life threatening,'' and were ``symptoms'' of a heart attack.

Daly, who consulted with Hutton, expects Fitch's recovery time to be four to six weeks but said it would be up to the coach whether he would want to return. Training camp begins Oct. 4.

``I talked to him and he seemed eager to get back to work,'' Daly said. ``He can come back from this.''

Should Fitch miss the start of camp, assistant coach Jim Brewer probably would guide the team until Fitch returns.

Fitch, who has coached the Clippers for two years, is in the hospital's coronary unit and should be moved to a regular hospital room today.

Hutton will determine today how long Fitch will stay at Columbia. According to Daly, usual triple bypass patients have about a week's hospital stay.

Joe Safety, Clippers vice president of communications, said the organization has not yet considered Fitch's possible return.

``Bill is our friend and our primary concern is his complete and total recovery,'' Safety said. ``He's joking. He sounds great when I talked to him. All the other stuff we haven't even thought about.''

Daly said Fitch will probably have to change his eating habits if he's going to return to the Clippers. However, Daly said it is possible for Fitch to deal with the rigors of NBA coaching.

``It might be worse for him to quit,'' Daly said. ``He needs stress reduction, to lose weight and then he should be able to deal with it.''

Fitch ranks fourth in all-time NBA victories with 891 and coached the Boston Celtics to the 1981 NBA title and the 1986 Houston Rockets to the NBA Finals.

Several coaches have had heart troubles in recent years, the latest being Lasorda, who retired when he couldn't return to his animated style of managing after a minor heart attack. Football coaches Mike Ditka and Bill Parcells both retired partly because of heart trouble. Parcells, who is known for his intense style, returned to the New England Patriots and is entering his fourth season there.

However, the circumstances are different in NBA coaching with constant travel and demands of the fast-paced game. Fitch's coaching style is intense during games and in practice.

``It's his life and option,'' Daly said. ``In four to six weeks, he'll be improved, then we'll see.''

It's been a difficult summer for the Clippers. No. 1 pick Lorenzen Wright has yet to practice because of foot surgery, second-round pick Doron Sheffer opted to play in Israel and the club is also looking for a trainer and a training-camp site.

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Photo: (color) FITCH