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- Mr. Celtic as a Coach
Mr. Celtic as a Coach
Date: 1960s to 1970s
Tommy Heinsohn was just the fourth person elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. Heinsohn’s experience as a player helped him as Celtics head coach from 1969 to 1978. But it wasn’t always easy. In his first season at the helm, the Celtics slogged to a 34-48 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1950. Still, Red Auerbach had faith in Tommy’s ability to turn things around. “Red stayed clear of my locker room, my practice floor and my players, unless I asked him for help,” Heinsohn explained. “He put me in charge, and then stepped back and let me do my own thing. And he made sure I knew he was behind me, every step of the way.”
( C ) NBA/Celtics