Red Auerbach
Red Auerbach in front of a collage created by his brother, Zang Auerbach | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 20, 1917 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 2006 (aged 89) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Eastern District (Brooklyn, New York) |
| College |
|
| Position | Guard |
| Coaching career | 1940–1966 |
| Career history | |
| As a player: | |
| 1943 | Harrisburg Senators |
| As a coach: | |
| 1940 | St. Albans School |
| 1940–1943 | Roosevelt HS |
| 1946–1949 | Washington Capitols |
| 1949 | Duke (assistant) |
| 1949–1950 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
| 1950–1966 | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights | |
As head coach:
As executive:
| |
| Career coaching record | |
| NBA | 938–479 (.662) |
| Record at Basketball Reference | |
| Basketball Hall of Fame | |
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was an American professional basketball coach and executive. As head coach, he led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 to 1966.[1] On retiring in 1966, he held an NBA coaching record of 938 wins.[2] He served as general manager of the Celtics from 1966 to 1984, and later as President and Vice-Chairman of the Board. He won a combined 16 NBA titles in his 29 years with the Celtics, making him one of the most successful team officials in the history of North American professional sports.[3] He served as president of the Celtics until his death in 2006 at the age of 89.
Auerbach coached many players who were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.[4] He also played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA. In 1950, he drafted Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player. In 1965, he introduced the first African-American starting five.[5] In 1966, he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach.[6]
Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.[7] In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted Auerbach the greatest coach in the NBA history.[8] He was also named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980.[7] Auerbach has been regarded as one of the NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and had his number 2 jersey retired at TD Garden, the Celtics' stadium.[9]
- ^ "Red Auerbach | NBA Champion, Celtics Coach, Basketball Innovator | Britannica". www.britannica.com. February 11, 2025. Retrieved March 27, 2025.
- ^ "ESPN Classic - Auerbach's Celtics played as a team". www.espn.com. Retrieved July 22, 2025.
- ^ "Red Auerbach biography". JockBio.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
- ^ Writer, JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports. "Hall of Fame coach Auerbach dies". Gadsden Times. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
- ^ "Black History Month: List of first Black players to reach NBA milestones". NBA.com. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
- ^ "NBA Legend Bill Russell Became First Black Coach in Pro Sports 46 Years Ago Today". April 18, 2012.
- ^ a b May, Peter (October 29, 2006). "Auerbach, pride of the Celtics, dies". Boston.com. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (October 29, 2006). "Red Auerbach, Who Built Basketball Dynasty, Dies at 89". The New York Times. Retrieved July 10, 2007.
- ^ "Retired numbers for the Boston Celtics | NBA.com". NBA. Retrieved March 17, 2025.