Tom “Satch” Sanders

Thomas “Satch” Sanders

8x NBA Champion | Former Harvard Crimson Basketball Coach | Former Boston Celtics Head Coach

Thomas “Satch” Sanders was born on November 8, 1938, in New York City, New York. Standing at 6’6, Sanders played for the NYU Violets men’s basketball team of New York University. He was drafted with the 8th overall pick in the first round of the 1960 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.

Sanders played all 13 seasons with the Celtics, winning 8 NBA championships and is tied for third for the most NBA championships (with Tom Heinsohn and K.C. Jones). He is also one of three NBA players with an unsurpassed 8–0 record in NBA Finals series (Along with John Havlicek & K.C. Jones.

After his playing career, he served as a head coach for the Harvard Crimson men’s basketball team and served as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtics, later becoming the head coach in 1978. Sanders was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2011.

  • Overall Coaching Record: 63-78
    • NCAA: 40-60
    • NBA: 23-39

Coaching Career

Satch Sanders started his coaching career by becoming the head coach of the Harvard Crimson men’s basketball team, making him the first African American to serve as a head coach of any sport in the Ivy League.

In his 4 seasons with the program, Sanders had an overall coaching record of 40-60.

Coach Sanders became an assistant coach under former teammate Tom Heinsohn for the Boston Celtics. After a 11-23 start, Heinsohn and the Celtics parted ways at the head coach position, naming Sanders as the interim for the remainder of the season. Sanders finished with a 21-27 coaching record and a 32–50 team record, missing the playoffs.

Notable Players Coached

  • John Havlicek
    • 8× NBA champion (1963–1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976)
    • 1974 NBA Finals MVP
    • 13× NBA All-Star (1966–1978)
    • 4× All-NBA First Team (1971–1974)
    • 7× All-NBA Second Team (1964, 1966, 1968–1970, 1975, 1976)
    • 5× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1972–1976)
    • 3× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1969–1971)
    • 1963 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • No. 17 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Dave Bing
    • 7× NBA All-Star (1968–1969, 1971, 1973–1976)
    • 1976 NBA All-Star Game MVP
    • 2× All-NBA First Team (1968, 1971)
    • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
    • 1967 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1967 NBA All-Rookie Team
    • 1968 NBA scoring champion
    • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team
    • No. 21 retired by Detroit Pistons
  • Jo Jo White
    • 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
    • 1976 NBA Finals MVP
    • 7× NBA All-Star (1971–1977)
    • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1975, 1977)
    • 1970 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • No. 10 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Dave Cowens
    • 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
    • NBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
    • 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
    • 1973 NBA All-Star Game MVP
    • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
    • 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
    • 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team
    • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • No. 18 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Sidney Wicks
    • 4× NBA All-Star (1972–1975)
    • 1972 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1972 NBA All-Rookie First Team
  • Cedric Maxwell
    • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
    • 1981 NBA Finals MVP
    • No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Kermit Washington
    • 1980 NBA All-Star
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1980, 1981)
  • Curtis Rowe (1976 NBA All-Star)
  • Don Chaney
    • 2× NBA champion (1969, 1974)
    • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1975, 1977)
    • Future NBA Head Coach
  • Ernie DiGregorio
    • 1974 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1974 NBA All-Rookie First Team
    • 1974 NBA assists leader

After the 1977-1978 season, Sanders was named the head coach of the Boston Celtics. After a 2-12 start, Sanders was replaced by Dave Cowens who would serve as the head coach along with his playing responsibilities, making him a player-coach.

Notable Players Coached

  • Dave Cowens
    • 2× NBA champion (1974, 1976)
    • NBA Most Valuable Player (1973)
    • 8× NBA All-Star (1972–1978, 1980)
    • 1973 NBA All-Star Game MVP
    • 3× All-NBA Second Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
    • 1976 NBA All-Defensive First Team
    • 2× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1975, 1980)
    • 1971 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1971 NBA All-Rookie Team
    • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • No. 18 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Bob McAdoo
    • 2× NBA champion (1982, 1985)
    • 1975 NBA Most Valuable Player
    • 5× NBA All-Star (1974–1978)
    • 1975 All-NBA First Team
    • 1974 All-NBA Second Team
    • 1973 NBA Rookie of the Year
    • 1973 NBA All-Rookie Team
    • 3× NBA scoring champion (1974–1976)
    • NBA 75th Anniversary Team
  • Nate “Tiny” Archibald
    • 1981 NBA champion
    • 6× NBA All-Star (1973, 1975, 1976, 1980–1982)
    • 1981 NBA All-Star Game MVP
    • 3× All-NBA First Team (1973, 1975, 1976)
    • 2× All-NBA Second Team (1972, 1981)
    • 1973 NBA scoring champion
    • 1973 NBA assists leader
    • 50th & 75th NBA anniversary team selections
    • No. 1 retired by Sacramento Kings
  • Cedric Maxwell
    • 2× NBA champion (1981, 1984)
    • 1981 NBA Finals MVP
    • No. 31 retired by Boston Celtics
  • Don Chaney
    • 2× NBA champion (1969, 1974)
    • 5× NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1972–1975, 1977)
    • Future NBA Head Coach
  • Chris Ford
    • 1981 NBA champion as a player
    • 2× NBA champion (1984, 1986) as a Boston Celtics assistant coach
  • Curtis Rowe (1976 NBA All-Star)