Auerbach, "Red" (Arnold)
Basketball
b. Sept. 20, 1917, Brooklyn, NY
d. Oct. 28, 2006
A self-described "dictator with compassion," Auerbach once said about coaching, "Strategy is something anyone can learn, but not all coaches take the time to understand a man's personality."
Small but fiercely competitive, Auerbach played basketball at George Washington College and led the team in scoring his senior year with 10.6 points a game. After three years as a high school coach, he served at the Norfolk, VA, Naval Air Station during World War II, then became coach of the Washington Capitols of the newly organized Basketball Association of America in 1946.
Auerbach won 123 games and lost 62 in three seasons at Washington, then went to the Tri-Cities Blackhawks for one season. Despite a 29-35 record there, he was offered $10,000 a year to coach the Boston Celtics beginning with the 1950-51 season.
Auerbach believed in a running game. While he turned the Celtics into winners, they needed someone to get the rebounds to make that style work, and they were unsuccessful in the playoffs until the 1956-57 season, when Bill Russell came along. Auerbach took a bold step by trading two proven veterans, "Easy Ed" Macauley and Cliff Hagan, to the St. Louis Hawks for the rights to Russell, a rookie who had led the University of San Francisco to two straight NCAA championships.
Russell was the final ingredient. Not only could he get the rebounds to start the fast break, but his shot-blocking ability turned the high-scoring Celtics into a strong defensive team. They won 11 NBA championships in the next 13 seasons. Auerbach coached them to the first nine, including eight in a row, from 1959 through 1966. Then he was replaced by Russell but remained as the team's general manager.
A strong believer in the team concept as opposed to individual stardom, Auerbach was a master at finding veteran players who could fit into that concept. Among those role players who helped the Celtics to championships at one time or another were Paul Silas, Don Nelson, Clyde Lovellette, Willie Naulls, Bailey Howell, and M. L. Carr.
Auerbach retired as general manager in 1984 and became president of the team, still wielding considerable power as an adviser. During his 34 years as general manager, the Celtics won 16 NBA titles. As a coach, he recorded 1,037 victories against 548 losses.