Red Auerbach.

Red Auerbach. Red Auerbach, (1917-2006), American basketball coach, who still holds the record for most consecutive National Basketball Association championship titles--eight with the Boston Celtics. Auerbach guided the Celtics to nine titles overall, a record he shares with Phil Jackson, who won six titles with the Chicago Bulls and three with the Los Angeles Lakers. In 1966 Auerbach set a record as the coach with the most regular-season wins, 938 (this record was surpassed in 1995 by Lenny Wilkens). Born Arnold Auerbach in Brooklyn, New York, he began his coaching career in 1946 with the now-defunct Washington Capitols. He guided the Capitols to two division titles in 1947 and 1949. He served as head coach of the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966. Under Auerbach, the Celtics won nine NBA championships. The team won its first title in 1957 and then won eight straight titles from 1959 to 1966. Auerbach retired from coaching in 1966 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969, while serving as general manager of the Celtics. He also assumed the position of team president in 1970. After he retired as general manager in 1984, Auerbach continued as president until his death. During his tenure as general manager and president, the Celtics won seven more NBA championships. Auerbach's many successes and long tenure with the Celtics made him an icon among fans, and his name became closely associated with the Boston Celtics organization. Auerbach was also credited with helping reform the sport from a social perspective. He helped integrate the NBA by drafting the first African American player, naming the first black coach in any professional sport--superstar Bill Russell--and starting the first all-black NBA lineup. Known for his habit of sitting among fans during home games, Auerbach became famous for lighting a victory cigar when he was certain that the Celtics would win the game. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.