Red Rocha
Detroit Pistons Head Coach | 2× NBA All-Star as Player | Hawaii Basketball Coach
Red Rocha was born on September 18, 1923, in Hilo, Hawaii. He played college basketball at the University of Hawaii before beginning a professional career that included 586 BAA/NBA games.
Rocha was a 2-time NBA All-Star as a player before moving into coaching. During the 1957-1958 season, he took over as head coach of the Detroit Pistons after Charley Eckman left the position.
Rocha coached the Pistons for parts of 3 seasons, reaching the playoffs twice and finishing his NBA head coaching career with a 65-88 regular-season record.
Coach Rocha passed away on February 13, 2010, at the age of 86.
- Overall Coaching Record: 65-88
Coaching Career
Red Rocha was hired as head coach of the Detroit Pistons on December 19, 1957, replacing Charley Eckman during the franchise’s first season in Detroit.
Rocha went 24-23 over the remainder of the 1957-1958 regular season. Detroit swept the Cincinnati Royals in the Western Division Semifinals before losing to the St. Louis Hawks in 5 games in the Western Division Finals.
The Pistons finished 28-44 in 1958-1959 and returned to the playoffs, where they lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in 3 games in the Western Division Semifinals.
Detroit started the 1959-1960 season 13-21 under Rocha. He was fired on December 28, 1959, and replaced by Dick McGuire.
Rocha finished his NBA head coaching career with a 65-88 regular-season record and a 4-6 playoff record.
Notable Players Coached
- George Yardley
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 6× NBA All-Star
- 1958 NBA scoring champion
- Gene Shue
- 5× NBA All-Star
- Future NBA head coach
- Walter Dukes
- 2× NBA All-Star