Red Auerbach Hiring

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Lore & Background

Auerbach coached many players who were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He also played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA. In 1950, he drafted Chuck Cooper, the first African-American player ever drafted by an NBA team. In 1965, he introduced the first African-American starting five. In 1966, he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach. Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted Auerbach the greatest coach in the NBA history. He was also named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980. 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.

In Their Own Story

The tension on the court was palpable as Auerbach drilled his players on the necessity of tough defense over individual scoring. When the Celtics finally broke through in 1957, it began a decade of dominance defined by team cohesion rather than star power. In 1964, Auerbach made history by sending out the first African-American starting five: Bill Russell, Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. This move shattered racial barriers just years after he drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950. His leadership culminated in 1966 when he retired as a coach to name Bill Russell the NBA's first African-American head coach. For every victory, Red lit a cigar on the sideline, a ritual that signaled his team's expectation of winning and demoralized the opposition.

Reader's Guide

Auerbach was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on September 20, 1917. He earned the nickname "Red" due to his distinctive flaming red hair and fiery temper. After a season at Seth Low Junior College, he received an athletic scholarship to play for the George Washington Colonials men's basketball team. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1940, and a Master of Education in 1941. He began coaching basketball and teaching at St. Albans School in 1941, then coached at Roosevelt High School from 1941 to 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1943 and served for three years. He coached the Washington Capitols from 1946 to 1949, then briefly served as assistant coach at Duke University. He coached the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the 1949–50 season. In 1950, he took a position as athletic director of Kutsher's Hotel. He coached the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966, winning eight consecutive NBA championships from 1959 to 1966.

Did You Know?

• Auerbach drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, the first African-American player ever drafted by an NBA team.
• In 1965, Auerbach introduced the first African-American starting five in the NBA.
• Auerbach hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach in 1966.
• Auerbach won a combined 16 NBA titles with the Celtics, the most of any individual.

The Dynasty Builder

Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. Before this streak, he guided the team to a title in 1957, starting a run of nine titles in ten years. His coaching record stood at 938 wins upon his retirement in 1966, an NBA record at the time. Auerbach’s teams were defined by their fast-break offense and elite defense, often forcing opponents into difficult shots due to the lack of a three-point arc during that era. He emphasized role players like Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek, who became pioneers of the sixth-man position. His tenure as head coach ended in 1966, but his influence on the franchise's winning culture was permanent.

A Pioneer for Equality

Red Auerbach played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA through specific, historic actions. In the 1950 draft, he selected Chuck Cooper as the first African-American player ever drafted into the league. In 1964, he introduced the first African-American starting five in NBA history, featuring Bill Russell, Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. His commitment to integration culminated in 1966 when he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach. These moves not only strengthened his teams but also broke significant barriers within professional sports.

The Executive Legacy

After retiring as a head coach in 1966, Auerbach served as general manager of the Celtics until 1984 and later became president and vice-chairman of the Board. In these roles, he continued to win, accumulating a combined total of 16 NBA titles with the franchise, the most by any individual. His executive prowess was recognized in 1980 when he was named NBA Executive of the Year. That same year, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted him the greatest coach in NBA history. He remained president until his death on October 28, 2006, at the age of 89.

From Brooklyn to Immortality

Born in Brooklyn on September 20, 1917, to Russian-Jewish immigrants Hyman and Marie Auerbach, Arnold Jacob earned the nickname "Red" for his flaming red hair and fiery temper. He played basketball at Eastern District High School before earning a scholarship to George Washington University, where he led the team in scoring in 1940 and developed the fast-break technique. After serving as a Rehabilitation and Physical Training officer in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, he coached various teams including the Washington Capitols and Duke Blue Devils before joining Boston. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969, named one of the NBA's 10 Greatest Coaches, and had his number 2 jersey retired at TD Garden.