Tom Heinsohn

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Thomas William Heinsohn (born August 26, 1934 in Jersey CityNew Jersey) is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player on the Boston Celtics basketball team. He also coached the team from 1970 to 1978. He is currently the color commentator on the Celtics' television broadcasts on Fox Sports New England.

Contents 1 College ball 2 Pro career 3 Coaching career 4 Broadcasting Career 5 Achievements 6 External links

[edit] College ball

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Heinsohn was a standout at St. Michael's High School in nearby Union City. He accepted a scholarship to the College of the Holy Cross and during his senior year, Heinsohn scored a school record 51 points in a game against Boston College. He also became the school's all-time leading scorer, with 1,789 points, which averages out to 22.1 points per game.

[edit] Pro career

In 1956, Heinsohn signed on with the Boston Celtics. In his first season, Heinsohn played in an NBA All-Star Game, was named the NBA Rookie of the Year, and won his first championship ring. He was part of a Celtics squad that won eight NBA titles in nine years, including seven in a row between 1959 and 1965. In NBA history, only teammates Bill Russell and Sam Jones won more championship rings during their playing careers. During his playing career, Heinsohn was named to six All-Star teams. On the day his teammate and fellow Holy Cross Crusader Bob Cousy retired, Heinsohn scored his 10,000^th career point. His number 15 was retired by the Celtics in 1966.

[edit] Coaching career

After his playing days were over, Heinsohn became the Celtics' head coach. He led the team to a league best 68-14 record during the 1972-1973 season and was named Coach of the Year, although Boston was upset in the playoffs. The next season Heinsohn and the Celtics won the championship, and they claimed another title in 1976. He accumulated a career coaching record of 427-263.

[edit] Broadcasting Career

In 1981, the now-retired Heinsohn joined Mike Gorman as color commentator in the Celtics' TV broadcasts; they have since become one of the longest-tenured tandems in sports broadcasting history. For a time in the 1980s, he was in the same capacity during CBS' coverage of the NBA Finals, but was let go due to his lack of impartiality. Occasionally, Bob Cousy makes appearances with the tandem of Gorman and Heinsohn.

In his broadcasting capacity he is well known for his energetic (if the Celtics are winning or playing well) attitude and as a "homer," blatantly rooting for the Celtics, even to the point where he will yell at the officials while on the air for perceived biased officiating or missed calls. He also points out players who display extra hustle and are willing to "give up life and limb" to help the team by giving them "Tommy Points".

Away from the court, Heinsohn enjoys painting and playing golf; he once headed a life insurance company.

[edit] Achievements

• 1957 Rookie of the Year
• Six-time NBA All-Star
• 1973 Coach of the Year
• Named to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1986
• Recipient of the 1995 Jack McMahon Award by the National Basketball Coaches Association

[edit] External links

• Tommy Heinsohn's Basketball Hall of Fame profile
• Heinsohn's bio at NBA.com
• A story from SportsCentral about Heinsohn
• Tommy Points handed out by Tommy Heinsohn
• Actual quotes from Tommy Heinsohn during Boston Celtics games

Preceded by Bill Russell

Boston Celtics Head Coach 1969–1978

Succeeded by Satch Sanders