Arnold J. "Red" Auerbach Enshrined 1969 Brooklyn, NY September 20, 1917 - October 28, 2006 Biography Red Auerbach was the architect and mastermind behind one of the most dominant franchises in professional sports history, the Boston Celtics. The cigar-chomping Auerbach expertly steered the Celtics to eight straight NBA championships, a streak unmatched in NBA history. Aggressive, demanding, and often volatile on the bench, Auerbach was the first coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games, his coaching brilliance showcased in a winning streak of eleven straight All-Star Games. Under Auerbach's watchful eye, the Celtics took ten Eastern Division titles in sixteen years. After retiring, Auerbach presided over the Celtics' franchise as general manager and president and was affiliated with sixteen club NBA titles. In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (PBWAA) named Auerbach the greatest coach in the history of the NBA. Career Highlights NBA championships with Boston Celtics, 1957, 1959-66 Coached All-Star Game, 1957-67 NBA Coach of the Year, 1965 NBA Executive of the Year, 1980