Red Holzman
2× NBA Champion | 1970 NBA Coach of the Year | Hall of Fame Coach
Red Holzman was born on August 10, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. He played college basketball at the City College of New York and later won professional championships as a player before beginning his coaching career.
Holzman first became an NBA head coach with the Milwaukee Hawks and remained with the franchise after its move to St. Louis. He later became a scout and coach with the New York Knicks.
With New York, Holzman won NBA championships in 1970 and 1973 and was named NBA Coach of the Year in 1970. He finished his NBA head-coaching career with a 696-603 regular-season record.
Holzman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach in 1986. Coach Holzman passed away on November 13, 1998, at the age of 78.
- Overall Coaching Record: 696-603
Coaching Career
Holzman became head coach of the Milwaukee Hawks during the 1953-1954 season.
The franchise moved to St. Louis in 1955. During the 1955-1956 season, the Hawks reached the playoffs and pushed the Fort Wayne Pistons to a decisive game in the Western Division Finals.
Holzman was fired during the 1956-1957 season and finished his Hawks head-coaching tenure with an 83-120 record.
Notable Players Coached
- Bob Pettit
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA MVP
- 11× NBA All-Star
- Cliff Hagan
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1958 NBA champion
- 5× NBA All-Star
- Slater Martin
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 5× NBA champion
- 7× NBA All-Star
After spending several years as a Knicks scout, Holzman replaced Dick McGuire as head coach during the 1967-1968 season.
New York developed into one of the league's best teams and won an NBA-record 18 consecutive games during the 1969-1970 season.
The Knicks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals, giving Holzman his first championship as a head coach. He was named NBA Coach of the Year that season.
New York returned to the Finals in 1972 and won another championship over the Lakers in 1973.
Holzman stepped away from the head-coaching position after the 1976-1977 season.
Notable Players Coached
- Willis Reed
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA champion
- 1970 NBA MVP
- 2× NBA Finals MVP
- Walt Frazier
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA champion
- 7× NBA All-Star
- Dave DeBusschere
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA champion
- 8× NBA All-Star
- Bill Bradley
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 2× NBA champion
- Earl Monroe
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
- 1973 NBA champion
- 4× NBA All-Star
Holzman returned to the Knicks as head coach early in the 1978-1979 season.
New York returned to the playoffs in 1980-1981 after finishing 50-32.
Holzman retired from coaching after the 1981-1982 season. His Knicks head-coaching record was 613-483, giving him a career NBA record of 696-603.
Notable Players Coached
- Bill Cartwright
- 3× NBA champion
- 1980 NBA All-Star
- Michael Ray Richardson
- 4× NBA All-Star
- 3× NBA steals leader
