On this day in Boston Celtics history, franchise legend Red Auerbach coached his first game as head coach and general manager of the Boston Celtics in 1950. Auerbach had just joined the team after the resignation of the first coach in team history, Alvin “Doggy” Julian, having previously worked as an assistant coach at Duke, and as head coach of the (then) Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now, Atlanta Hawks) before leaving the latter post after a disagreement with ownership.
Red had inherited a team with a 22-46 record and a desperate owner trying not to go belly-up who made an unusual decision towards that end that panned out in a big way.
That owner, Walter Brown, actually asked a number of local sportswriters who he ought to hire as a coach for the team, and after being recommended Auerbach by the crowd, extended an offer.