Red
Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 20, 1917, and died in Washington, D. C. on October 26, 2006.
Red began his basketball career as coach of the Washington Capitols, then with the TriCities Blackhawks and ultimately with the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death. As a coach he won 938 games (a record at his retirement) and nine National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. As general manager and team president, he won an additional seven NBA titles for a grand total of 16 in a span of 29 years, making him one of the most successful team officials ever in the history of professional sports. He was the architect of Celtic Pride.
Red is remembered as a pioneer of modern basketball, redefining basketball as a game dominated by team play and tough defense rather than individual feats and high scoring and introducing the fast break as a potent offensive weapon. He groomed many players, 14 of whom went on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and 30 who became coaches. Additionally, Red was vital in breaking down color barriers in the NBA. He made history by drafting the first African-American NBA player, Chuck Cooper, in 1950, and introduced the first African-American starting five in 1964. Famous for his polarizing nature, he was well-known for smoking a cigar when he thought a victory was assured, a habit that became for many, “the ultimate symbol of victory” during his Boston tenure.
In 1967, the NBA Coach of the Year award, which he had won in 1965, was named the “Red Auerbach Trophy,” and Red was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1980, he was named the greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America, and was NBA Executive of the Year in 1981. In addition, Red was voted one of the NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and is honored with a retired number 2 jersey in the TD Garden, the home of the Boston Celtics.
In 1985, a life-size sculpture was unveiled and placed in Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall Marektplace. Boston further honored Red in 2010 by dedication the Red Auerbach Concourse at TD Garden/North Station.
During his retirement, Red discovered the sport of double dutch jump rope, referring to it as his “second favorite sport.” Double dutch has become the signature program of his Foundation.
Red began his basketball career as coach of the Washington Capitols, then with the TriCities Blackhawks and ultimately with the Boston Celtics. After he retired from coaching, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death. As a coach he won 938 games (a record at his retirement) and nine National Basketball Association (NBA) championships. As general manager and team president, he won an additional seven NBA titles for a grand total of 16 in a span of 29 years, making him one of the most successful team officials ever in the history of professional sports. He was the architect of Celtic Pride.
Red is remembered as a pioneer of modern basketball, redefining basketball as a game dominated by team play and tough defense rather than individual feats and high scoring and introducing the fast break as a potent offensive weapon. He groomed many players, 14 of whom went on to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame and 30 who became coaches. Additionally, Red was vital in breaking down color barriers in the NBA. He made history by drafting the first African-American NBA player, Chuck Cooper, in 1950, and introduced the first African-American starting five in 1964. Famous for his polarizing nature, he was well-known for smoking a cigar when he thought a victory was assured, a habit that became for many, “the ultimate symbol of victory” during his Boston tenure.
In 1967, the NBA Coach of the Year award, which he had won in 1965, was named the “Red Auerbach Trophy,” and Red was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1980, he was named the greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America, and was NBA Executive of the Year in 1981. In addition, Red was voted one of the NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and is honored with a retired number 2 jersey in the TD Garden, the home of the Boston Celtics.
In 1985, a life-size sculpture was unveiled and placed in Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall Marektplace. Boston further honored Red in 2010 by dedication the Red Auerbach Concourse at TD Garden/North Station.
During his retirement, Red discovered the sport of double dutch jump rope, referring to it as his “second favorite sport.” Double dutch has become the signature program of his Foundation.
