Tom Heinsohn

Tom Heinsohn
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Name	Thomas William Heinsohn
Caption	Heinsohn in 1965
Birth date	August 26, 1934
Birth place	Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Death date	November 10, 2020
Death place	Newton, Massachusetts, U.S.
Weight lb	220
College	Holy Cross
Draft year	1956
Draft team	Boston Celtics
Career start	1956
Career end	1965
Career position	Forward
Career number	15
Coach start	1969
Coach end	1978
Teams	* Boston Celtics (player)
Coaching teams	* Boston Celtics (head coach)
Hof player	2015

Tom Heinsohn was an American professional basketball player, coach, and broadcaster, best known for his long association with the Boston Celtics. A six-time NBA champion as a player and two-time NBA champion as a head coach, he later became a prominent commentator on CBS Sports, NESN, and ABC Sports. Heinsohn was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sport.

Early life and college

Heinsohn was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and raised in Union City, New Jersey, attending St. Peter's Preparatory School before enrolling at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. At Holy Cross he played under coach Doggie Julian and starred alongside teammates who faced opponents such as Kentucky and UCLA in the era dominated by programs like Kansas and Indiana. Heinsohn earned acclaim in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament era, attracting attention from scouts including representatives of the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and St. Louis Hawks.

Professional playing career

Selected sixth overall in the 1956 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, Heinsohn joined teammates such as Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and Tommy Heinsohn's contemporaries including Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, and Frank Ramsey. As a power forward/center he helped the Celtics capture six NBA championships in 1957 and from 1959 through 1964, competing against franchises like the Minneapolis Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Los Angeles Lakers. Heinsohn was named to multiple NBA All-Star Game rosters and earned recognition in postseason series versus teams led by players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West. His playing style combined scoring, rebounding, and hustle, contributing to the Celtics dynasty overseen by coach Red Auerbach. Heinsohn retired as a player after the 1964–65 season, leaving a legacy alongside Celtics legends including John Havlicek and Sam Jones.

Coaching and broadcasting career

After several years away from the bench, Heinsohn returned to the Celtics as head coach in 1969, succeeding coaches in a lineage that included Russell as player-coach era influences and organizational figures like Red Auerbach and Walter Brown. He led the Celtics to NBA championships in 1974 and 1976, defeating teams such as the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns and coaching players including Dave Cowens, Jo Jo White, and Paul Silas. Heinsohn's coaching tenure featured playoff battles against the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Transitioning to broadcasting, Heinsohn became a familiar voice on CBS Sports national telecasts, local New England Sports Network (NESN) coverage, and appearances on ABC Sports, partnering with commentators like Gary Thorne, Mike Gorman, and analysts who covered matchups involving the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Miami Heat. Known for his enthusiastic and sometimes partisan commentary, he offered color analysis for regular season games and NBA Playoffs broadcasts, becoming a fixture in Boston sports media alongside contemporaries such as Johnny Most and Bob Cousy.

Personal life and legacy

Heinsohn's personal life intersected with Boston institutions; he lived in the Greater Boston area and remained linked to the Celtics organization, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and community programs involving teams like Boston College and local youth AAU circuits. He was honored with jersey retirement by the Celtics and recognition from the Basketball Hall of Fame and the franchise's list of greatest players alongside figures such as Bill Russell and Bob Cousy. Heinsohn's legacy is reflected in coaching trees connected to coaches like Bill Fitch and broadcasters influenced by him across networks including ESPN and TNT. He died in Newton, Massachusetts in 2020, remembered by peers, opponents, and generations of fans across arenas like Boston Garden and TD Garden.

Category:1934 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Basketball coaches Category:Boston Celtics players Category:Basketball broadcasters