Date of Birth: September 20, 1917
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: October 28, 2006
Biography
Arnold Jacob “Red” Auerbach was an iconic American basketball coach and executive born on September 20, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his tenure with the Boston Celtics, where he transformed the team into a dominant force in the NBA. Auerbach began his coaching career in the Basketball Association of America (BAA) with the Washington Capitols in 1946 and later coached the Tri-Cities Blackhawks before joining the Celtics in 1950. Under Auerbach’s leadership, the Celtics won nine NBA championships in the 1950s and 1960s, including an unprecedented eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. Known for his strategic mind and fiery personality, Auerbach was a pioneer in the integration of African American players into the NBA, famously drafting the league’s first African American player, Chuck Cooper, in 1950. After retiring from coaching in 1966, Auerbach continued to serve the Celtics as general manager and president, further cementing the team’s legacy by assembling championship-winning rosters in the 1970s and 1980s. He passed away on October 28, 2006, leaving behind a legacy as one of the greatest basketball minds of all time.
5 Interesting Facts about Red Auerbach
1. Red Auerbach won 938 games in his coaching career, which was an NBA record at the time of his retirement.
2. He was known for lighting a “victory cigar” on the bench when he believed a victory was assured.
3. Auerbach was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1965 and the award was later named the “Red Auerbach Trophy” in his honor.
4. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.
5. Auerbach was instrumental in drafting and building around Bill Russell, one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Red Auerbach
1. “Just do what you do best.”
2. “The Boston Celtics are not a basketball team, they are a way of life.”
3. “You don’t win games as a coach during games — you win games by preparation.”
4. “The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love.”
5. “To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child, when a parent dies, the past dies.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Red Auerbach’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Red Auerbach had two children, Nancy Auerbach Collins and Randy Auerbach.
Relevant Links
1. [Red Auerbach – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Auerbach
2. [Biography on NBA.com](https://www.nba.com/history/legends/profiles/red-auerbach
3. [Basketball Hall of Fame Profile](https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/red-auerbach/
4. [ESPN’s Red Auerbach Legacy](https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2642671
5. [Boston Celtics Tribute](https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/Red_Auerbach.html
