Auerbach, Arnold J.
From GWUEncyc
Alumni; Athletic Hall of Fame
Arnold J. “Red” Auerbach (1917-2006) was the architect and mastermind behind one of the most dominant franchises in professional sports history, the Boston Celtics. The cigar-chomping Auerbach wasn't a passive bench coach, but an aggressive, demanding and often volatile mentor who coached eleven Basketball Hall of Fame recipients and led Boston to 10 Eastern Division titles in 16 years. Auerbach's passionate style reaped large rewards. From 1959 to 1966, the Celtics won eight straight NBA championships, a streak unmatched in sports history. His 938-479 (.662) career coaching record currently ranks fifth all-time in NBA history. Auerbach led Boston to 99 playoff victories, third all-time behind Phil Jackson and Pat Riley. Auerbach showcased his coaching prowess in 11 straight All-Star games. He was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1965, and in 1970, was selected as the NBA's 25th Anniversary All-Time Team coach. In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (PBWAA) named Auerbach the greatest coach in the history of the NBA. Auerbach began his coaching career in 1946 in the BAA with the Washington Capitals and led them to the 1947 and 1949 division titles. In 1950, Auerbach became head coach of the Boston Celtics. After coaching, Auerbach joined the Celtics front office full-time and in 1980 was named NBA Executive of the Year.
The following is the citation from his Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, 1971:
Arnold Jacob Auerbach, who received the degree of Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 1940 and the degree of Master of Arts in 1941 from George Washington University, gave early evidence of mastery in the sport that was to become his career. As a sophomore, he easily made the varsity basketball team, and by his senior year he was high scorer in the District of Columbia – averaging about 11 points a game! The game has changed greatly in the three decades since, but “Red” Auerbach has always been in the middle of things. After graduation he was a high school coach in the Washington area until he joined the Navy. In 1946 he was instrumental in developing a professional team in Washington which he was named coach, and since that time he has been a fixture in the National Basketball Association. For over twenty years he has been directing the fortunes of the Boston Celtics as Coach and General Manager. As a coach, he was without peer; he has won virtually every award and citation available to a professional coach, including membership in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
Document Information
Images: 2
Photographic Credit: 1940 Cherry Tree yearbook; Hatchet, March 5, 1940
Author or Source: Alumni biographical files/236; Basketball Hall of Fame website [1]
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: December 21, 2006
Prepared by: Lyle Slovick, Assistant University Archivist
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