![As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/GXZ24EYBQBDH3B63BHVUAFDPA4.jpg)
As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe
![Celtics legends Paul Pierce, Bill Russell (as coach) highlight Class of 2021 officially inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame - masslive.com Celtics legends Paul Pierce, Bill Russell (as coach) highlight Class of 2021 officially inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame - masslive.com](https://www.masslive.com/resizer/R-qwmvH8r4bPrtX8Nz9Eiq3IG8w=/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-advancelocal/public/OC7LHH2HAJHP7I3C7FWPT2ZHQ4.jpg)
Celtics legends Paul Pierce, Bill Russell (as coach) highlight Class of 2021 officially inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame - masslive.com
![Coach Bill Russell Dozed Off During a Practice and Angrily Blamed His Players When He Woke Up: 'If Y'all Wasn't So Damn Boring I Wouldn't Be Sleeping!' Coach Bill Russell Dozed Off During a Practice and Angrily Blamed His Players When He Woke Up: 'If Y'all Wasn't So Damn Boring I Wouldn't Be Sleeping!'](https://www.sportscasting.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Bill-Russell.jpg)
Coach Bill Russell Dozed Off During a Practice and Angrily Blamed His Players When He Woke Up: 'If Y'all Wasn't So Damn Boring I Wouldn't Be Sleeping!'
![ESPN on Twitter: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" / ESPN on Twitter: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" /](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzQqK0jUcAkbGDY.jpg)
ESPN on Twitter: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" /
![BILL RUSSELL (February 12, 1934 - July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 BILL RUSSELL (February 12, 1934 - July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2JK8M2K/bill-russell-february-12-1934-july-31-2022-was-an-american-professional-basketball-player-who-played-as-a-center-for-the-boston-celtics-of-the-national-basketball-association-nba-from-1956-to-1969-a-five-time-nba-most-valuable-player-and-a-12-time-nba-all-star-he-was-the-centerpiece-of-the-celtics-dynasty-that-won-11-nba-championships-during-his-13-year-career-file-photo-november-6-1987-sacramento-california-usa-sacramento-kings-head-coach-bill-russell-courtside-during-a-game-credit-image-owen-brewersacramento-beezuma-wire-2JK8M2K.jpg)
BILL RUSSELL (February 12, 1934 - July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956
![CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA](https://caamuseum.org/content/7-learn/1-600state/20200416-blackfact-on-april-16th-1966-bill-russell-becomes-the-first-african-american-head-coach-in-the-nba/blog_bill_russell_2000.jpg)
CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA
![Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others | Sporting News Canada Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others | Sporting News Canada](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/crop_style_16_9_mobile_2x/s3/2021-08/bill-russell-player-coach-nbae-gettyimages_ao9sqsexf30b1u308bmthi5ii.png?itok=yeCupNvc)