Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach accrued a combined 16 NBA titles across a decades-long tenure with the Boston Celtics, cementing his status as one of the most successful officials in North American sports. Born in Brooklyn in 1917, he fundamentally altered the professional game through tactical innovation and a commitment to integrating the league during its formative years.
Early Development and Education
Raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the son of Russian-Jewish immigrants Marie and Hyman Auerbach, he spent his youth competing on local basketball courts. After attending Eastern District High School and Seth Low Junior College, he moved to Washington, D.C., to attend George Washington University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1940 and a Master of Education in 1941, during which time he pioneered the fast break strategy that would define his later coaching career.
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Auerbach taught and coached at St. Albans School and Roosevelt High School before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in 1943. Serving as a physical training officer, he operated primarily at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center until his 1946 release. Following his service, he coached the Washington Capitols in the Basketball Association of America, establishing a winning culture before briefly serving as an assistant at Duke and overseeing a roster overhaul for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.
The Boston Celtics Era
Hired by owner Walter Brown in 1950, Auerbach began a transformation of the Boston Celtics. His tenure was marked by eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. Beyond his tactical success, he played a central role in breaking the league's color barrier by drafting Chuck Cooper in 1950 and later fielding the first all-African-American starting five in 1965. In 1966, he appointed Bill Russell as the first African-American head coach in the NBA.
Executive Leadership and Legacy
After retiring from head coaching in 1966 with 938 wins, Auerbach transitioned to the role of general manager, later serving as president and vice-chairman of the Board until his death. His contributions were recognized through the 1980 NBA Executive of the Year Award and his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. He died in 2006 at the age of 89 in Washington, D.C., and was buried in Virginia.
Fast facts
- Born: 1917, Brooklyn, New York
- Died: 2006, Washington, D.C.
- Education: George Washington University
- NBA Coach of the Year: 1965
- NBA Executive of the Year: 1980
- John Bunn Award recipient: 1980
- Professional coaching career: 1941-1966
- Burial site: Virginia
Questions readers ask
How many NBA championships did Red Auerbach win?
He won a combined 16 NBA titles during his career with the Boston Celtics.
What significant role did he play regarding racial integration in basketball?
He drafted the first African-American player, Chuck Cooper, in 1950, introduced the first African-American starting five in 1965, and hired the league's first African-American head coach, Bill Russell, in 1966.
Achievements
- Educated at George Washington University and Eastern District High School
- Worked as basketball coach, basketball player and coach
