View source for Red Auerbach

{{short description|American basketball coach and executive (1917–2006)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox basketball biography
| name = Red Auerbach
| image = Auerbach_Lipofsky.jpg
| caption = Red Auerbach in front of a collage created by his brother, Zang Auerbach
| height_ft = 5
| height_in = 10
| weight_lb = 170
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|9|20|}}
| birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2006|10|28|1917|9|20}}
| death_place = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| high_school = [[Eastern District High School|Eastern District]]<br />(Brooklyn, New York)
| college = 
*[[Seth Low Junior College|Seth Low JC]] (1936–1937)
*[[George Washington Colonials men's basketball|George Washington]] (1937–1940)
| career_position = [[Guard (basketball)|Guard]]
| coach_start = 1940
| coach_end = 1966
| years1 = 1943
| team1 = [[Harrisburg Senators (basketball)|Harrisburg Senators]]
| cyears1 = 1940
| cteam1 = [[St. Albans School (Washington, D.C.)|St. Albans School]]
| cyears2 = 1940–1943
| cteam2 = [[Theodore Roosevelt High School (Washington, D.C.)|Roosevelt HS]]
| cyears3 = {{nbay|1946|start}}–{{nbay|1948|end}}
| cteam3 = [[Washington Capitols]]
| cyears4 = 1949
| cteam4 = [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball|Duke]] (assistant)
| cyears5 = {{nbay|1949|full=y}}
| cteam5 = [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]]
| cyears6 = {{nbay|1950|start}}–{{nbay|1965|end}}
| cteam6 = [[Boston Celtics]]
| highlights = 
'''As head coach:'''
* 9× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|1957|end}}, {{nbafy|1959|end}}–{{nbafy|1966|end}})
* [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|NBA Coach of the Year]] ({{nbay|1964|end}})
* 11× [[List of NBA All-Star Game head coaches|NBA All-Star Game head coach]] ([[1957 NBA All-Star Game|1957]]–[[1967 NBA All-Star Game|1967]])
* [[NBA anniversary team]] ([[NBA 25th Anniversary Team|25th]], [[NBA 35th Anniversary Team|35th]])
* [[Top 10 Coaches in NBA History]]
* [[Top 15 Coaches in NBA History]]
* No. 2 [[List of Boston Celtics accomplishments and records#Retired numbers|retired by Boston Celtics]]
'''As executive:'''
* 7× [[List of NBA champions|NBA champion]] ({{nbafy|1968|end}}, {{nbafy|1969|end}}, {{nbafy|1974|end}}, {{nbafy|1976|end}}, {{nbafy|1981|end}}, {{nbafy|1984|end}}, {{nbafy|1986|end}})
* [[NBA Executive of the Year Award|NBA Executive of the Year]] ({{nbay|1979|end}})
| cstats_league1 = NBA
| cwin1 = 938
| closs1 = 479
| HOF_coach = red-auerbach
}}
'''Arnold Jacob''' "'''Red'''" '''Auerbach''' (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was an American professional [[basketball]] coach and executive. As head coach, he led the [[Boston Celtics]] to eight consecutive [[NBA championships]] between 1959 to 1966.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Red Auerbach {{!}} NBA Champion, Celtics Coach, Basketball Innovator {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Red-Auerbach |access-date=2025-03-27 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> On retiring in 1966, he held an NBA coaching record of 938 wins.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN Classic - Auerbach's Celtics played as a team |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/auerbach_red.html |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=www.espn.com}}</ref> He served as general manager of the Celtics from 1966 to 1984, and later as President and Vice-Chairman of the Board. He won a combined 16 NBA titles in his 29 years with the Celtics, the most of any individual, making him one of the most successful team officials in the history of [[North American professional sports leagues|North American professional sports]].<ref name="jockbio">{{cite web |title=Red Auerbach biography |url=http://www.jockbio.com/Classic/Red/Red_bio.html |access-date=July 10, 2007 |publisher=JockBio.com |archive-date=February 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210062742/http://www.jockbio.com/Classic/Red/Red_bio.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as president of the Celtics until his death in 2006 at the age of 89. 

Auerbach coached many players who were inducted into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=JOSEPH WHITE AP Sports |title=Hall of Fame coach Auerbach dies |url=https://www.gadsdentimes.com/story/sports/2006/10/29/hall-of-fame-coach-auerbach-dies/32269408007/#:~:text=The%20jersey%20No.,into%20the%20Hall%20of%20Fame. |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=Gadsden Times |language=en-US}}</ref> He also played a key role in decreasing [[racial discrimination]] in the NBA. In 1950, he drafted [[Chuck Cooper (basketball)|Chuck Cooper]], the NBA's first [[African-American]] player. In 1965, he introduced the first African-American starting five.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black History Month: List of first Black players to reach NBA milestones |url=https://www.nba.com/news/first-black-players-nba-milestones |access-date=2025-01-31 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}</ref> In 1966, he hired [[Bill Russell]] as the NBA's first African-American head coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://newsone.com/2003287/bill-russell-first-black-coach-in-pro-sports/|title=NBA Legend Bill Russell Became First Black Coach in Pro Sports 46 Years Ago Today|date=18 April 2012}}</ref> 

Auerbach was inducted into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]] in 1969.<ref name="pride">{{cite news |last=May |first=Peter |date=October 29, 2006 |title=Auerbach, pride of the Celtics, dies |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/29/auerbach_pride_of_celtics_dies/ |access-date=July 10, 2007 |publisher=Boston.com}}</ref> In 1980, the [[Pro Basketball Writers Association|Professional Basketball Writers Association]] of America voted Auerbach the greatest coach in the NBA history.<ref name="NYTimes">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/29/sports/basketball/29auerbach.html?ex=1319774400&en=5a9ed5bdbc403098&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |title=Red Auerbach, Who Built Basketball Dynasty, Dies at 89 |access-date=July 10, 2007 |work=The New York Times |first=Richard |last=Goldstein |date=October 29, 2006}}</ref> He was also named [[NBA Executive of the Year]] in 1980.<ref name="pride" /> Auerbach has been regarded as one of the [[NBA 50 Greatest Players|NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history]], was inducted into the [[National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame]], and had his number 2 jersey retired at [[TD Garden]], the Celtics' stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Retired numbers for the Boston Celtics {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/news/boston-celtics-retired-numbers |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=NBA |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life==
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was born in [[Brooklyn]], New York City, on September 20, 1917. Auerbach was one of four children born to Marie and Hyman Auerbach ({{langx|yi|היימאַן אוירבך}}; {{langx|ru|Хайман Ауэрбах}}). Hyman, a [[Russian-Jewish]] immigrant from [[Minsk]], [[Russian Empire]] (present-day [[Belarus]]), arrived in the United States at age thirteen. He married American-born Marie Auerbach (née Thompson).<ref name="team" /> In Brooklyn, the couple first owned a [[delicatessen]] before transitioning into the dry-cleaning business. Their son, Auerbach, spent his childhood in [[Williamsburg, Brooklyn]], playing basketball. He earned the nickname "Red" due to his distinctive flaming red hair and fiery temper.<ref name="jockbio" />

During the [[Great Depression]], Auerbach played basketball as a [[Guard (basketball)|guard]] at P.S. 122 and [[Eastern District High School]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Auerbach |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/sports-and-games/sports-biographies/red-auerbach |website=Encyclopedia.com |access-date=May 26, 2020 |date=May 9, 2020}}</ref> where he was named "Second Team All-Brooklyn" by the [[New York World-Telegram|World-Telegram]] in his senior year.

==College career==
After a season at [[Seth Low Junior College]], Auerbach received an [[athletic scholarship]] to play for the [[George Washington Revolutionaries men's basketball|George Washington Colonials men's basketball]] team in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C]].<ref name="jockbio" /><ref>{{cite book |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Sporting News Official NBA Register, 2002–2003 Edition|location=[[St. Louis, Missouri]] |publisher= [[Sporting News]]|page=446 |date= 2002|isbn=0892046821}}</ref> Auerbach was regarded as a standout basketball player. Auerbach was a three-time letterman, team captain, and led the team in scoring in 1940. Auerbach graduated with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] in Education in 1940, and a [[Master of Education]] in 1941.<ref name="team" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Arnold (Red) Auerbach (1959) - Hall of Fame |url=https://gwsports.com/honors/hall-of-fame/arnold-red-auerbach/7 |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=George Washington University Athletics |language=en}}</ref> In those years, Auerbach began to develop the technique known as the [[fast break]].

==Coaching career==
===St. Albans School (1941)===
In 1941, Auerbach began coaching basketball and teaching at the [[St. Albans School (Washington, D.C.)|St. Albans School]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About 1 |url=https://wmbhof.com/about-1-1 |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Washington Metropolitan Basketball Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Red Auerbach.jpg|thumb|Auerbach's Navy headshot, likely taken in late 1943.]]

===Roosevelt High School (1941–1943)===
Auerbach coached [[basketball]] and [[baseball]] and taught at [[Theodore Roosevelt High School (Washington, D.C.)|Roosevelt High School]] in Washington, D.C. for two years.<ref name="team" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-05-07 |title=Remember when – Red Auerbach? |url=https://www.lowellsun.com/ci_29862796/remember-when-by-chris-tierney/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=Lowell Sun |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Auerbach, Arnold ("Red") {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/auerbach-arnold-red |access-date=2025-05-07 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

On February 4, 1943, Auerbach appeared in a game for the [[Harrisburg Senators (basketball)|Harrisburg Senators]] of the [[American Basketball League (1925–1955)|American Basketball League]] (ABL) and scored one point.<ref>{{cite news |date=February 5, 1943 |title=Margin Gained in Second Stanza by Sphas Wins Fray |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-news-margin-gained-in-second/169273792/ |access-date=March 31, 2025 |work=The Evening News |page=11 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

=== United States Navy ===
Auerbach enlisted in the [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] in June 1943. He served for three years as a Rehabilitation and Physical Training officer. He primarily served in a medical capacity at the [[Walter Reed National Military Medical Center]].<ref name=":1" /> Auerbach also coached at the [[Naval Station Norfolk]] in Norfolk, Virginia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Red Auerbach |url=https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/red-auerbach/ |website=Pro Basketball Encyclopedia |access-date=March 31, 2025}}</ref> He was released from active duty as a [[Lieutenant (junior grade)]] in October 1946.<ref name=":1" />

===Washington Capitols (1946–1949)===
While with the U.S. Navy, Auerbach caught the eye of Washington millionaire Mike Uline, who hired him to coach the Washington Capitols in the newly founded [[Basketball Association of America]] (BAA), a predecessor to the NBA.<ref name="jockbio" />

In the [[1946–47 BAA season]], Auerbach led a fast break-oriented team built around early BAA star [[Bones McKinney]] and various ex-Navy players to a 49–11 win–loss record. Their record included a [[List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks|17-game winning streak]] that stood as the single-season league record until 1969. In the playoffs, however, they were defeated by the [[Chicago Stags]] in six games.<ref name="team">{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/biography/s/auerbach_red.html |title=Auerbach's Celtics played as a team |last=Hilton |first=Lisette |access-date=July 10, 2007 |work=[[ESPN|ESPN.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1947-baa-semifinals-stags-vs-capitols.html|title = 1947 BAA Semifinals – Stags vs. Capitols}}</ref>

The [[1947–48 BAA season|following year]] the Capitols went 28–20<ref name="team" /> but were eliminated from the playoffs in a one-game Western Division tie-breaker.<ref name="jockbio" /> In the [[1948–49 BAA season|1948–49 season]], the Capitols won their first fifteen games and finished at 38–22.<ref name="team" /> The team reached the BAA Finals but were beaten by the [[Minneapolis Lakers]], led by Hall of Famer [[George Mikan]]. In the following season, the BAA and the rival [[National Basketball League (United States)|National Basketball League]] merged to become the NBA, and Auerbach felt he had to rebuild his squad. However, owner Uline declined his proposals, and Auerbach resigned.<ref name="jockbio" />

=== Duke Blue Devils (1949) ===
After leaving the Capitols, Auerbach became assistant coach of the [[Duke Blue Devils men's basketball]] team.<ref>{{cite news|title=Auerbach Takes Duke Post|newspaper=The Boston Daily Globe|date=July 1, 1949}}</ref> It was assumed that Auerbach would take over for head coach [[Gerry Gerard]], who was battling cancer. During his tenure at Duke, Auerbach regularly worked with future All-American [[Dick Groat]]. Auerbach later wrote that he "felt pretty bad waiting for [Gerard] to die" and that it was "no way to get a job".<ref>{{cite book |last=Sumner |first=Jim |title= Tales from the Duke Blue Devils Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Duke Basketball Stories Ever Told |year=2005 |publisher=Sports Publishing | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xL7uDAAAQBAJ&pg=PT22 |isbn= 9781613219607}}</ref>

===Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1950)===
Auerbach left Duke after a few months when [[Ben Kerner]], owner of the [[Tri-Cities Blackhawks]], gave him the green light to rebuild the team from scratch. Auerbach traded more than two dozen players in just six weeks. The revamped Blackhawks ended the [[1949–50 NBA season]] with a losing record of 28–29. Auerbach resigned when Kerner traded Auerbach's favorite player, [[John Mahnken]].<ref name="jockbio" />

In 1950, Auerbach took a position as the athletic director of [[Kutsher's Hotel]] in the Catskills, NY. Kutsher's was the center of a summertime basketball league, and players from the New York City area would participate, playing for one of several local country clubs and hotels.<ref name="kutshers">{{cite web |url=https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2014/09/06/kutsher-new-york-chamberlain |title=Remembering Kutsher's, Where Pro Athletes, Vacationers Mingled |last=Sommerstein irst=David |date=September 6, 2014 |access-date=May 11, 2020 |publisher=[[WBUR|wbur.org]]}}</ref>

===Boston Celtics (1950–1966)===
Before the [[1950–51 NBA season]], [[Walter A. Brown|Walter Brown]], owner of the [[Boston Celtics]], was desperate to turn around his struggling and financially strapped franchise, which was reeling from a 22–46 record.<ref name="team" /> Brown hired Auerbach. In the [[1950 NBA draft]], Auerbach made some notable moves. First, he famously snubbed future Hall of Fame [[point guard]] [[Bob Cousy]]. He argued that Cousy lacked the poise necessary to make his team and called him a "local [[yokel]]".<ref name="jockbio" /> Instead, he selected [[Bowling Green Falcons men's basketball|Bowling Green]] center [[Chuck Share]] with the first overall pick. Auerbach used the Celtics' second-round pick on [[Chuck Cooper (basketball)|Chuck Cooper]], the first black player to be drafted into the NBA.<ref name="AfricanAmerican1st">{{cite web |url=http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1175/Chuck_Cooper_one_of_the_NBAs_first_Black__players |title=Chuck Cooper, one of the NBA's first Black players |access-date=August 21, 2007 |publisher=The African American Registry |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701092509/http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1175/Chuck_Cooper_one_of_the_NBAs_first_Black__players |archive-date = July 1, 2007}}</ref> This pick effectively broke the [[color barrier]] in professional basketball.<ref name="color">{{cite news |last=Ryan |first=Bob |date=October 30, 2006 |title=Red was just full of color |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/30/red_was_just_full_of_color/ |url-status=dead |access-date=July 10, 2007 |publisher=Boston.com |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122225455/http://archive.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2006/10/30/red_was_just_full_of_color/ }}</ref>

Entering the 1951 season, the Celtics core players were [[Ed Macauley]], Bones McKinney and Bob Cousy. With Auerbach's fast-break tactics, the Celtics achieved a 39–30 record but lost in the [[1951 NBA Playoffs]] to the [[New York Knicks]]. However, the relationship between Auerbach and Cousy improved when the coach help craft the young guard—an already outstanding dribbler and passer—into a great playmaker.<ref name="jockbio" />

In the following [[1951–52 NBA season]], the Celtics obtained guard [[Bill Sharman]]. Sharman, who was drafted in the second round of the [[1950 NBA draft]], played his rookie season with the Washington Capitols. When the Capitols folded after the 1950 season, Sharman was selected by the [[Fort Wayne Pistons]] in the dispersal draft and subsequently traded to the Celtics before the 1951 season. With the high-scoring Macauley, elite passer Cousy, and new prodigy Sharman, Auerbach had his team. Other notable players who joined the Celtics during these early years were forwards [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] and [[Jim Loscutoff]]. For the next five seasons, the Celtics would make the playoffs every year but never won a title. The Celtics struggled in the playoffs, going 10–17 in the postseason from 1951 through 1956.<ref name="team" /> As Cousy put it: "we would get tired in the end and couldn't get the ball."<ref name="shouler">{{cite web |last=Shouler |first=Ken |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/feature/featureVideo?page=auerbach
| title=The Consummate Coach |access-date=July 10, 2007 |work=[[ESPN|ESPN.com]]}}</ref> As a result, Auerbach sought a defensive big man who could get easy [[rebound (basketball)|rebounds]], initiate fast breaks, and close out games.<ref name="jockbio" />

[[File:Bill Russell and Red Auerbach 1956.jpeg|thumb|Auerbach sitting on the bench next to rookie [[Bill Russell]] during a game at [[Boston Garden]] on December 26, 1956. [[Bob Cousy]] can be seen in the background.]]
On the day of the [[1956 NBA draft]], Auerbach acquired [[Bill Russell]], a defensive rebounding center, via a draft-day trade with the rival [[St. Louis Hawks]]. Auerbach also selected forward [[Tom Heinsohn]] and guard [[K.C. Jones]], two future Hall of Famers. Emphasizing team play rather than individual performances, and stressing that defense was more important than offense, Auerbach drilled his players to play tough defense and force opposing [[turnover (basketball)|turnovers]] for easy fast-break points. Forward [[Satch Sanders|Tom “Satch” Sanders]] recalled, "defense and conditioning were the best parts of those teams".<ref name="shouler" />

Anchored by Russell, the Celtics forced their opponents to take low-percentage shots from farther distances (there was no [[Three-point field goal|three-point]] arc at the time). This strategy allowed Auerbach's Celtics to take advantage on the fast break.<ref name="jockbio" /> Auerbach also emphasized the need for role players like [[Frank Ramsey (basketball)|Frank Ramsey]] and [[John Havlicek]], who became two of the first legitimate [[sixth man|sixth men]] in NBA history,<ref name="shouler" /> a role later played by [[Don Nelson]]. Auerbach's recipe demoralized the opposition. From 1957 to 1966, the Celtics won nine of ten NBA championships. This included eight consecutive championships—the longest championship streak in North American sports—and six finals victories over the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] Hall of Famers [[Elgin Baylor]] and [[Jerry West]]. The Celtics' dominance during this time denied perennial scoring and rebounding champion [[Wilt Chamberlain]] a title during Auerbach's coaching reign.<ref name="feinstein">{{cite web |last=Feinstein |first=Ron |title=Red Auerbach: True Stories and NBA Legends |website=NPR.org |date=November 2, 2004 |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4137301 |access-date=July 10, 2007 |publisher=NPR }}</ref>

In 1964, Auerbach sent out the first African-American starting five in NBA history. The players were [[Bill Russell]], [[Willie Naulls]], Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. For the [[1966–67 NBA season]], Auerbach appointed Bill Russell as the first African-American coach in NBA history. Auerbach also popularized smoking a victory cigar whenever he thought a game was already decided, a habit that became a popular tradition in the Boston area.<ref name="shouler" /> Auerbach had a reputation as a fierce competitor. He often got into verbal altercations with officials and was frequented fined and [[ejection (sports)|ejected]].<ref name="shouler" />

[[File:Bill Russell and Red Auerbach 1966 Champions.jpg|thumb|[[Bill Russell]] next to coach Auerbach after winning the [[1966 NBA Finals]].]]
Thirteen players who played for Auerbach have been inducted into the [[Basketball Hall of Fame]]—Macauley, Ramsey, Cousy, Sharman, Heinsohn, [[Clyde Lovellette]], [[Arnie Risen]], [[Andy Phillip]], [[John Thompson (basketball)|John R. Thompson]] (as a coach), Russell, K.C. Jones, Havlicek, and [[Sam Jones (basketball, born 1933)|Sam Jones]].<ref name="jockbio" /> Sharman, Heinsohn, and Russell would become three of only five people to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as both players and coaches.

Before the 1965–66 NBA season, Auerbach announced the coming year would be his last as coach, stating to the rest of the league, "This is your chance to take your last shot at me." After losing Game 1 of the [[1966 NBA Finals|1966 Finals]] to the Lakers in overtime, he publicly named his successor, center [[Bill Russell]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-27 |title=Celtics Hire Bill Russell as first Black Head Coach in NBA History - The Sports Museum |url=https://www.sportsmuseum.org/curators-corner/celtics-hire-bill-russell-as-first-black-head-coach-in-nba-history/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.sportsmuseum.org |language=en-US}}</ref> The Celtics won the series in seven games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Justin |title=On this day: Celtics icon Red Auerbach retires as coach, 1966 championship won |url=https://celticswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/celtics/2025/04/28/celtics-history-red-auerbach-retires-as-coach-1966-championship-won/83223169007/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Celtics Wire |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Executive career==
===Boston Celtics (1966–2006)===
Russell took over as a player-coach for the [[1966–67 NBA season]], becoming the first [[African Americans|African American]] head coach in the four major North American professional team sports.<ref name="jockbio" /> While his pupil led the Celtics to two additional titles in 1968 and 1969, Auerbach rebuilt the aging Celtics with shrewd draft picks, namely future Hall of Famers [[Dave Cowens]] and [[Jo Jo White]], as well as [[Paul Westphal]] and [[Don Chaney]]. With ex-player Tom Heinsohn coaching the Celtics and led by former sixth man [[John Havlicek]], Auerbach's recruits won the [[Atlantic Division (NBA)|Atlantic Division]] every year from 1972 to 1976, winning the NBA title in [[1974 NBA Finals|1974]] and [[1976 NBA Finals|1976]]. Auerbach also signed veteran forward/center [[Paul Silas]] and ex-[[American Basketball Association|ABA]] star [[Charlie Scott (basketball)|Charles Scott]].<ref name="team" />

However, Auerbach could not prevent the Celtics from going south at the end of the 1970s. He traded away both Silas and Westphal because they wanted salary increases that would have made them higher earners than what he believed to be the best player on the Celtics (Cowens), which was not acceptable to Auerbach. While the Westphal trade to the [[Phoenix Suns]] in exchange for [[Charlie Scott (basketball)|Charlie Scott]] was considered a success due to the Celtics' 13th title in 1976, Auerbach later admitted he erred in letting Silas go, even after Cowens personally begged him to give Silas a new deal. When Havlicek retired in 1978, the Celtics went 61–103 in two seasons.<ref name="team" /> In the summer of 1978, after the worst in a string of contentious clashes with several different owners after Walter Brown's passing in 1964, Auerbach hopped into a taxi to take him to [[Logan International Airport|Logan Airport]], where he was to board a flight to New York to consider a lucrative contract offer from Knicks owner [[Sonny Werblin]]. However, the cab driver pleaded with him to stay, emphasizing how much Bostonians loved him and considered him their family.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1969/12/31/8230694/the-road-not-taken|title = The Road Not Taken| newspaper=Sports Illustrated Vault &#124; Si.com }}</ref> Soon after, heading a team press conference, and with his typical bravado, Auerbach puffed on his trademark cigar and stated: "I'm not going anywhere. We're going to sign [[Larry Bird]] and we're going to be on top again." Despite knowing that Bird, a talented young player from unheralded Indiana State, had a year of college eligibility remaining, he had drafted Bird as a junior eligible in the [[1978 NBA draft]]. He waited for a year until the future Hall of Fame forward Bird arrived, finally setting aside his team salary rules when it became clear that his choices were paying Bird a record-setting rookie salary or watching him re-enter the 1979 draft. Bird then became the highest-paid Celtic as a rookie, with a $650,000-per-year deal. Auerbach knew the brilliant, hard-working Bird would be the cornerstone of a new Celtics generation.<ref name="jockbio" />

In 1980, Auerbach pulled off what became known as "The Steal of The Century".<ref>{{YouTube|f64odP09_d8|Bballbreakdown – How Red Auerbach Stole Parish and McHale}}</ref> He convinced the [[Golden State Warriors]] to trade him a #3 overall pick and future Hall-of-Fame center [[Robert Parish]] in exchange for two picks in the [[1980 NBA draft]]: #1 overall [[Joe Barry Carroll]] and the #13 pick [[Rickey Brown]]. With the #3 pick, Auerbach selected the player he most wanted in the draft, [[Kevin McHale (basketball)|Kevin McHale]], who would also be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Parish-McHale-Bird [[frontcourt]] became one of the greatest in NBA history. Auerbach also hired head coach [[Bill Fitch]], who led the revamped Celtics to the [[1981 NBA Finals|1981]] title.

In 1983, Auerbach named former Celtics player [[K.C. Jones]] as the coach. Starting in 1984, Jones coached the Celtics to four straight appearances in the [[NBA Finals]], winning championships in [[1984 NBA Finals|1984]] and [[1986 NBA Finals|1986]].

Auerbach, as a part-time side gig, was the [[color analyst]] on NBA and college basketball games for [[TNT Sports (United States)|TBS Sports]] from 1982 to 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1988-05-16-8801300317-story.html|title = Double-Teamed Cunningham Deals with Tv, Heat| date=May 16, 1988 }}</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1982/12/13/turners-dream-game-was-a-rude-awakening/d6e09a7c-4534-48a2-9bff-663cb52a93b3/ Turner's 'Dream Game' Was a Rude Awakening – The Washington Post<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

In 1984, after he relinquished his general managing duties to [[Jan Volk]], Auerbach focused on continuing as president and later vice-chairman of the [[Boston Celtics]].<ref name="team" /> In a surprising move after winning their 15th title, he traded popular guard [[Gerald Henderson]], the Game 2 hero in the Finals against the Lakers, for Seattle's first-round draft pick in 1986. Two years later, after the Celtics defeated Houston in the finals for their 16th championship, he used the second overall pick in the 1986 draft, the pick acquired from Seattle, to take college prodigy [[Len Bias]] from Maryland, arguably the most brilliant coup in Auerbach's stellar career. With the team's star players still in their prime, the defending champions appeared set to compete at the top for years. However, tragedy struck just two days later, when Bias died of a [[cocaine]] overdose. Several years later, Celtics star player [[Reggie Lewis]] died suddenly in 1993. Without any league compensation for either loss, the team fell into decline, not seeing another Finals appearance in Auerbach's lifetime.<ref name="team" />

In an interview, Auerbach confessed that he lost interest in big-time managing in the early 1990s, preferring to stay in the background and concentrating on his pastimes, [[racquetball]] and his cigar-smoking. He would, however, stay on with the Celtics as president until 1997, as vice chairman until 2001, and then became president again, a position he held until his death,<ref name="shouler" /> although in his final years, he was weakened by heart problems and often used a wheelchair.<ref name="tribute">{{cite web |title=A Tribute to Red |url=http://www.nba.com/news/auerbach_tribute.html
| access-date=July 10, 2007 |work=[[NBA|NBA.com]] }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:RedAuerbach.jpg|thumb|Auerbach was honored on October 25, 2006, three days before his death, for his service in the Navy during World War II.]]
Auerbach was one of four children of American-born Marie Auerbach and Russian-Jewish immigrant Hyman Auerbach in Brooklyn. His brother Zang Auerbach, 4 years his junior, was a respected cartoonist and portraitist at the ''[[Washington Star]]''.<ref name="feinstein" /> Zang also helped create the iconic [[Boston Celtics]] leprechaun logo.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Lucky the Leprechaun |url=https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/item/introducing-lucky-the-leprechaun/ |access-date=July 16, 2023 |website=BostonCelticsHistory.com |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001110914/https://www.bostoncelticshistory.com/item/introducing-lucky-the-leprechaun/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>  

Auerbach married Dorothy Lewis in the spring of 1941. The couple had two daughters, Nancy and Randy.<ref name="shouler" /> They also helped raise Nancy's daughter Julie. 

Auerbach enjoyed smoking cigars. In the 1960s, some Boston restaurants displayed signs stating, "No cigar or pipe smoking, except for Red Auerbach".<ref name="shouler" /> In addition, Auerbach was well known for his love of [[Chinese cuisine|Chinese food]]. In an interview shortly before his death, he explained that since the 1950s, Chinese takeout was the most convenient nutrition: NBA teams used to travel on regular flights and had a tight schedule, so filling up the stomach with heavier non-Chinese food meant wasting time and risking travel-sickness. Over the years, Auerbach became so fond of this food that he even became a part-owner of a Chinese restaurant in Boston.<ref name="feinstein" /> Despite a heart operation, he remained active in his 80s, playing racquetball and making frequent public appearances.

Despite his fierce nature, Auerbach was popular among his players. He recalled that at his 75th birthday party, 45 of his former players showed up;<ref name="shouler" /> and when he turned 80, his perennial 1960s-era foe [[Wilt Chamberlain]] showed up, a gesture Auerbach dearly appreciated.<ref name="feinstein" />

In an interview with [[ESPN]], Auerbach stated that his all-star fantasy team would consist of Bill Russell—who in the former's opinion was the ultimate player to start a franchise with—as well as [[Bob Pettit]], [[Elgin Baylor]], [[Oscar Robertson]] and [[Jerry West]], with [[John Havlicek]] as the [[sixth man]]. As for the greatest basketball players of all time, Auerbach's candidates were Russell, [[Larry Bird]], [[Magic Johnson]], [[Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]], and [[Michael Jordan]]. Auerbach made multiple such "all-time" rankings over the years, with his last one being in June 2006, months before his death. Auerbach talked about his fictional team with journalist Ken Shouler which featured the following: Abdul-Jabbar, Chamberlain, and Russell at center; Bird, [[Julius Erving|Erving]], Pettit, and Baylor at forward; and Robertson, Jordan, Havlicek, Johnson, and Cousy at guard.<ref name="shouler" />

Auerbach was elected to the American Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1991. In 1993, Auerbach received an honorary [[Doctor of Public Service]] from [[George Washington University]].<ref name=":0" /> 

===Death===
Auerbach died of a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on October 28, 2006, at the age of 89.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-A-Bu-and-Obituaries/Auerbach-Red.html |title=Red Auerbach Biography&nbsp;– life, family, parents, name, history, school, mother, son, born, college, contract, house, time, year, Parents Were Russian Immigrants |publisher=Notablebiographies.com |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> NBA commissioner [[David Stern]] said, "The void caused by his death will never be filled." Players [[Bill Russell]], [[K.C. Jones]], [[John Havlicek]] and [[Larry Bird]], as well as contemporaries like [[Jerry West]], [[Pat Riley]], and [[Wayne Embry]], universally hailed Auerbach as one of the greatest personalities in NBA history.<ref name="tribute"/> Bird stated, "Red shared our passion for the game, our commitment to excellence, and our desire to do whatever it takes to win." Auerbach was survived by his daughters Nancy and Randy; his granddaughter Julie; and his great-grandchildren Peter, Hope and Noelle. Auerbach was interred in [[Falls Church, Virginia]], at King David Memorial Gardens within National Memorial Park on October 31, 2006. Attendees included basketball dignitaries Bill Russell, Kevin McHale, [[Danny Ainge]], and David Stern.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 1, 2006 |title=A simple goodbye to Celts' Auerbach |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2006/11/01/a-simple-goodbye-to-celts-auerbach/ |url-status= |access-date=July 17, 2025 |work=Barre Montpelier Times Argus}}</ref>

During the [[2006–07 NBA season]], [[NBA TV]] and NBA.com aired [[rerun]]s of Auerbach's four-minute instructional videos known as "Red on Roundball" previously aired during ''[[NBA on CBS]]'' halftime shows in the 1970s and 1980s, and as a testament to his importance in the Boston sports world, the [[Boston Red Sox]] honored Auerbach at their April 20, 2007 game against the [[New York Yankees]] by wearing green uniforms and by hanging replicated Celtics championship banners on the "[[Green Monster]]" at [[Fenway Park]]. Boston won 7–6.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McPhillips |first=Alex |date=April 20, 2007 |title=Red Sox honor Auerbach with green |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/mlb/y2007/m04/d20/c1920977.jsp |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=MLB.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Elman |first=Jake |date=March 17, 2020 |title=Why Do the Boston Red Sox Wear Green Jerseys on St. Patrick's Day? |url=https://www.sportscasting.com/why-do-the-boston-red-sox-wear-green-jerseys-on-st-patricks-day/ |access-date=April 22, 2023 |website=Sportscasting}}</ref>

Before Boston's [[2007–08 NBA season|season opener]] against the [[Washington Wizards|Wizards]], his signature was officially placed on the parquet floor near center court, thereby naming the court as "Red Auerbach Parquet Floor". The ceremony was attended by his daughter Randy and Celtics legends. The signature replaced the Red Auerbach memorial logo used during the [[2006–07 NBA Season|2007 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parquet Magazine: New Court, Old Flair {{!}} Boston Celtics |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/misc-021716-new-court-old-flair |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Writing==
Auerbach was the author of seven books. His first, ''Basketball for the Player, the Fan and Coach'', has been translated into seven languages and is the best-selling basketball book in print.<ref name="jockbio" /> His second book, co-authored with Paul Sann, was ''Winning the Hard Way.'' He also wrote a pair of books with Joe Fitzgerald: ''Red Auerbach: An Autobiography'' and ''Red Auerbach On and Off the Court.'' In October 1991, ''M.B.A.: Management by Auerbach'' was co-authored with Ken Dooley. In 1994, ''Seeing Red'' was written with [[Dan Shaughnessy]]. In October 2004, his last book, ''Let Me Tell You a Story'', was co-authored with sports journalist [[John Feinstein]].

==Legacy==
Auerbach is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NBA 75: 15 Greatest Coaches {{!}} NBA.com |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-75-15-greatest-coaches |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=NBA |language=en}}</ref> The NBA's [[NBA Coach of the Year Award|Coach of the Year Award]] is named in his honour. Auerbach is remembered as a shrewd coach and executive with a fierce sense of loyalty to his players.<ref>{{Cite news |title=A Man For All Seasons |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/02/15/a-man-for-all-seasons |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729000345/https://vault.si.com/vault/1982/02/15/a-man-for-all-seasons |archive-date=2021-07-29 |access-date=2025-07-23 |work=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |language=en-us}}</ref> Many of his former players, including [[Bill Russell]] and [[Don Nelson]], became successful coaches in the NBA.

In 1985, the Celtics retired a number 2 jersey with Auerbach's name, to recognize his significant contributions to the franchise.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Quinn |first1=Justin |last2=read |first2=Celtics Wire·2 min |date=2025-03-02 |title=Boston Celtics jersey history No. 2 - Arnold "Red" Auerbach |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/boston-celtics-jersey-history-no-130018813.html |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:Celtics2.png|thumb|left|95px|In 1985, the Boston Celtics retired the #2 jersey with Auerbach's name.]]

In 1985, a [[Statue of Red Auerbach|statue of Auerbach]] was unveiled outside of [[Quincy Market]] in Downtown Boston<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Auerbach, (sculpture). |url=https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!29280~!0#focus |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230918150415/https://siris-artinventories.si.edu/ipac20/ipac.jsp?&profile=ariall&source=~!siartinventories&uri=full=3100001~!29280~!0#focus |archive-date=September 18, 2023 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=siris-artinventories.si.edu}}</ref>

Auerbach was included in the 2008 documentary ''[[The First Basket]],'' which chronicles the history of Jews in Basketball.<ref>{{Citation |last=Vyorst |first=David |title=The First Basket |type=Documentary, Sport |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1171238/ |access-date=2025-07-22 |others=Red Auerbach, Peter Riegert, Ossie Schectman}}</ref> 

In 2018, the Celtics opened the [[Auerbach Center|Red Auerbach Center]] as the team's new practice facility and headquarters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=With Auerbach Center, C's Now Own Practice Facility Supremacy in NBA {{!}} Boston Celtics |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/off-with-auerbach-center-cs-now-own-practice-facility-supremacy-in-nba |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Coaching pioneer===
Auerbach favoured the [[fast break]] strategy, which involved a quick outlet pass to fast-moving guards who attempted to score before the opposing team could re-establish its defensive position.<ref name="jockbio"/> Auerbach is credited for transforming basketball into a team sport that emphasized defence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Landrigan |first=Leslie |date=2014-01-12 |title=How Red Auerbach Turned Boston Into a Basketball Town |url=https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/red-auerbach-ached-celtics-lost/ |access-date=2025-07-23 |website=New England Historical Society |language=en-us}}</ref> He also invented the concept of the role player and the [[sixth man]],<ref name="jockbio"/><ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1038350002836525308 Creator of the Sixth Man Talks About Game's Best]</ref> stating: "Individual honors are nice, but no Celtic has ever gone out of his way achieving them. We have never had the league's top scorer. We won seven league championships without placing even one among the league's top 10 scorers. Our pride was never rooted in statistics."<ref name="team"/>

Auerbach is remembered for his unique tactics, which have been described as "psychological warfare." He attempted to provoke opposing players and officials with unabashed [[trash talk]]. He was ejected more often and received more fines than any other coach in NBA history.<ref name="shouler" /> One notable incident came during a preseason game in 1983, when Auerbach stormed the court and screamed nose-to-nose with the 6'10" 260-pound [[Moses Malone]]. Auerbach was softer with his own players. [[Earl Lloyd]], the first black player to play in the NBA, said: "Red Auerbach convinced his players that he loved them... so all they wanted to do was please him."<ref name="shouler"/>

===Arnold "Red" Auerbach Award===
The Celtics have internally awarded the Arnold "Red" Auerbach Award since 2006, which recognizes a player or coach who "best exemplifies the spirit and meaning of a true Celtic."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/press032006-auerbach-award.html|title=Celtics and Red Auerbach Unveil the "Red Auerbach Award"|date=2006-03-20|access-date=2024-10-24|website=nba.com}}</ref>

==NBA coach statistics==
{{NBA coach statistics legend}}
{{NBA coach statistics start}}
|-
| align="left" |[[1946–47 Washington Capitols season|Washington]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1946}}
|60||49||11||{{Winning percentage|49|11}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||6||2||4||{{Winning percentage|2|4}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1949 BAA playoffs|BAA semifinals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1947–48 Washington Capitols season|Washington]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1947}}
|48||28||20||{{Winning percentage|28|20}}||align="center" |2nd in Western (tie)||-||-||-||{{Winning percentage||}}
| align="center" |Lost division tiebreaker
|-
| align="left" |[[1948–49 Washington Capitols season|Washington]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1948}}
|60||38||22||{{Winning percentage|38|22}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||11||6||5||{{Winning percentage|6|5}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1949 BAA Finals|BAA Finals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1949–50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season|Tri-Cities]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1949}}
|57||28||29||{{Winning percentage|28|29}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||3||1||2||{{Winning percentage|1|2}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1950 NBA playoffs|Division semifinals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1950–51 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1950}}
|69||39||30||{{Winning percentage|39|30}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||2||0||2||{{Winning percentage|0|2}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1951 NBA playoffs|Division semifinals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1951–52 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1951}}
|66||39||27||{{Winning percentage|39|27}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||3||1||2||{{Winning percentage|1|2}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1952 NBA playoffs|Division semifinals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1952–53 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1952}}
|71||46||25||{{Winning percentage|46|25}}||align="center" |3rd in Eastern||6||3||3||{{Winning percentage|3|3}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1953 NBA playoffs|Division finals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1953–54 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1953}}
|72||42||30||{{Winning percentage|42|30}}||align="center" |3rd in Eastern||2||0||2||{{Winning percentage|0|2}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1954 NBA playoffs|Division finals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1954–55 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1954}}
|72||36||36||{{Winning percentage|36|36}}||align="center" |4th in Eastern||7||3||4||{{Winning percentage|3|4}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1955 NBA playoffs|Division finals]]
|-
| align="left" |[[1955–56 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1955}}
|72||39||33||{{Winning percentage|39|33}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||3||1||2||{{Winning percentage|1|2}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1956 NBA playoffs|Division semifinals]]
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1956–57 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1956}}
|72||44||28||{{Winning percentage|44|28}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||10||7||3||{{Winning percentage|7|3}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1957 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-
| align="left" |[[1957–58 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1957}}
|72||49||23||{{Winning percentage|49|23}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||11||6||5||{{Winning percentage|6|5}}
| align="center" |Lost in [[1958 NBA Finals|NBA Finals]]
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1958–59 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1958}}
|72||52||20||{{Winning percentage|52|20}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||11||8||3||{{Winning percentage|8|3}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1959 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1959–60 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1959}}
|75||59||16||{{Winning percentage|59|16}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||13||8||5||{{Winning percentage|8|5}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1960 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1960–61 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1960}}
|79||57||22||{{Winning percentage|57|22}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||10||8||2||{{Winning percentage|8|2}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1961 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1961–62 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1961}}
|80||60||20||{{Winning percentage|60|20}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||14||8||6||{{Winning percentage|8|6}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1962 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1962–63 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1962}}
|80||58||22||{{Winning percentage|58|22}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||13||8||5||{{Winning percentage|8|5}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1963 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1963–64 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1963}}
|80||59||21||{{Winning percentage|59|21}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||10||8||2||{{Winning percentage|8|2}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1964 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1964–65 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1964}}
|80||62||18||{{Winning percentage|62|18}}||align="center" |1st in Eastern||12||8||4||{{Winning percentage|8|4}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1965 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-! style="background:#FDE910;"
| align="left" |[[1965–66 Boston Celtics season|Boston]]
| align="left" |{{nbay|1965}}
|80||54||26||{{Winning percentage|54|26}}||align="center" |2nd in Eastern||17||11||6||{{Winning percentage|11|6}}
| align="center" |'''Won [[1966 NBA Finals|NBA Championship]]'''
|-class="sortbottom"
| align="left" |'''Career'''
|||1417||938||479||{{Winning percentage|938|479}}||||168||99||69||{{Winning percentage|99|69}}
{{s-end}}

==See also==
*''[[The First Basket]]''
*[[List of select Jewish basketball players]]
*[[List of NBA championship head coaches]]
*[[List of coaches in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]]
*[[List of Boston Celtics head coaches]]
*[[Statue of Red Auerbach]]
*[[Auerbach Center]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
* Obituary (January 19, 2007), ''[[Jewish Chronicle]]'', p.&nbsp;45
*Halberstam, David. ''The Breaks of the Game.'' [[Random House]]. 1981

==External links==
{{sister project links|c=Category:Red Auerbach|q=Red Auerbach|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|wikt=no|s=no|species=no}}
* {{Basketballhof|arnold-j-red-auerbach}}
* [http://www.nba.com/celtics/history/remembering-red-auerbach.html Info page from Boston Celtics official site]
* {{find a Grave|16358504}}
* [https://www.basketball-reference.com/coaches/auerbre99c.html Coaching statistics at basketball-reference.com]
* {{IMDb name|0041728}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Auerbach, Red}}
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