MacLeod was a star high school basketball player before playing at Bellarmine College.

During this stint, MacLeod was named the head coach of the Western Conference All-Star Team in 1981.

After his departure from Phoenix, MacLeod went on to coach the Dallas Mavericks and New York Knicks.

In 1999, MacLeod resigned from his position and returned to Phoenix for one season as an assistant coach.

MacLeod was inducted into the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor on April 18, 2012, as the winningest coach in franchise history.