The greatest coach in sports history is gone

[nh_mopar_fan]

RIP Red Auerbach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/feature/featureVideo?page=auerbach

[Ponch ®]

The greatest coach in sports history is gone

John Wooden? Phil Jackson?

oh...nevermind 

[nh_mopar_fan]

The greatest coach in sports history is gone

John Wooden? Phil Jackson?

oh...nevermind 

Only if you ignore the records....

[Ponch ®]

The greatest coach in sports history is gone

John Wooden? Phil Jackson?

oh...nevermind 

Only if you ignore the records....

Phil Jackson


- The NBA's career leader in playoff victories and playoff winning percentage

- Phil Jackson has won nine NBA titles, tying Red Auerbach for the most all-time

- Guided the Lakers to three titles in his first stint as their head coach from 1999-2004

- Guided the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in his nine years as head coach from 1989-1998

- Going into the 2005-06 season, Phil Jackson owns a career coaching record of 832-316, his .725 winning percentage the NBA's best

- Career playoff record of 175-69, his winning percentage of .717 also heading the list



John Wooden , "THE Coach"

    *  Indiana State record: 47-14
    * Led Indiana State to the conference title (1947)
    * Led Indiana State to the finals of the NAIA invitation (1948)
    * UCLA record: 620-147
    * Led Bruins to four 30-0 seasons (1963-64, 1966-67, 1971-72, 1972-73)
    * Led Bruins to 88 consecutive victories
    * Led Bruins to 38 straight NCAA tournament victories
    * Led Bruins to 149-2 record at Pauley Pavilion
    * Led Bruins to 19 PAC 10 championships
    * Led Bruins to 10 national championships, including seven in a row (1966-73)
    * NCAA College Basketball Coach of the Year six times (1964, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973)
    * The Sporting News Sports Man of the Year (1970)
    * Sports Illustrated Sports Man of the Year (1973)
    * During 40 years of coaching, compiled a 885-203 (.813) record
    * One of only Three individuals enshrined in the Hall of Fame as a player and as a coach

[nh_mopar_fan]

I bet Phil won a few on those best coach trophies.

what's that called again?

Led Washington to two division titles (1947, 1949)
Coached the Boston Celtics to eight straight NBA championships (1959-66) and nine overall
First coach in history to win 1,000 games (1,037-548)
Led Boston to 10 Eastern Division titles in 16 years (1956-66)
NBA Coach of the Year (1965)
Named greatest coach in the history of the NBA by the
Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980)
Coached 11 Hall of Famers
Named NBA Executive of the Year (1980)
NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time team coach (1970)
Coached in the NBA East-West All-Star Game 11 consecutive years (1957-67) and compiled a 7-4 record
Authored the widely circulated basketball book Basketball for the Player, the Fan and the Coach
Bio: 

Red Auerbach is 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 11 Hall of Famers 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.

[TheGhost]

Tom Osbourne.

[REDNECK]

now lades play nice

[Chris G.]

Tom Osbourne.

Tom was idolized big time at the end of his coaching career, but he was always known as the guy who couldn't win the big one pre-94. He got out at the right time. He could part the red sea (no pun) in Nebraska any day of the week. A great man and coach, but far from the all time greatest.

[TheGhost]

I know.  I just wanted to throw his name out there, in satire of Mojo and nh_mopar_fan.

[TeeWJay426]

Went to the game last night. They put on a nice tribute to Red; he will always be ONE of the greatest basketball coaches... (not going to fan the fires of controversy here... ). Too bad the Celts stunk it up on the court in the game itself....

[41husk]

I think you should specify Basketball, the greatest wrestling coach ever Dan Gable!