March 28, 1966 – Bill Russell Named Head Coach Of The Boston Celtics
Bill Russell became the first African American to coach a NBA team when he was named the head coach of the Boston Celtics on March 28, 1966. Champion alone does not describe the greatness brought to the game of basketball by Russell as a player, coach and mentor of the sport. If there is one person who could be classified as an ambassador to the game of basketball, it could be and perhaps is Bill Russell. He was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana.
![See page for author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons 1961 Chicago Packers vs. Boston Celtics](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/1961_Chicago_Packers_vs._Boston_Celtics.jpeg/256px-1961_Chicago_Packers_vs._Boston_Celtics.jpeg)
A basketball game in 1961 between the Chicago Packers and the Boston Celtics. From left to rightː Bill Russell, Walt Bellamy, Tommy Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey
![By Pete Souza, White House photographer (Crop of this image) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Bill Russell in the Green Room](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Bill_Russell_in_the_Green_Room.jpg/512px-Bill_Russell_in_the_Green_Room.jpg)
Bill Russell waiting in the Green Room of the White House. He is about to receive the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.