William "Red" Holzman Inducted in 1991
William "RED" Holzman
William "Red" Holzman (August 10, 1920 – November 13, 1998) played basketball for Franklin K. Lane High School in New York in the mid-1930s. He attended the University of Baltimore and later the City College of New York, where he played for two years until graduation in 1942. Holzman joined the United States Navy in the same year and played on the Norfolk, Virginia Naval Base team till he was discharged from the Navy in 1945.
Holzman professional playing career began with the NBL Rochester Royals, which won the NBL championship in Holzman's first season, and he was named Rookie of the Year in 1944–45. In 1945–46 and 1947–48, he was on the NBL's first All-League team; in the interim year, he was on its second team. Holzman stayed with the team through their move to the NBA and subsequent NBA championship in 1951.
In 1953, Holzman left the Royals and joined the Milwaukee Hawks as a player-coach, eventually retiring as a player in 1954 but continuing as the team's head coach. As a coach, he coached 1953-1957 Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks, 1963-1967 Leones de Ponce, and 1967-1982 New York Knicks. As a player, he was named NBA champion (1951), NBL champion (1946), 2× All-NBL First Team (1946, 1948), All-NBL Second Team (1947), NBL Rookie of the Year (1946), and Third-team All-American – Converse (1942). As a coach, he was named 2× NBA champion (1970, 1973), NBA Coach of the Year (1970), 2× NBA All-Star Game Coach (1970, 1971), 3× BSN champion (1964–1966), Top 10 Coaches in NBA History, Top 15 Coaches in NBA History, and No. 613 retired by New York Knicks (1990)
Holzman professional playing career began with the NBL Rochester Royals, which won the NBL championship in Holzman's first season, and he was named Rookie of the Year in 1944–45. In 1945–46 and 1947–48, he was on the NBL's first All-League team; in the interim year, he was on its second team. Holzman stayed with the team through their move to the NBA and subsequent NBA championship in 1951.
In 1953, Holzman left the Royals and joined the Milwaukee Hawks as a player-coach, eventually retiring as a player in 1954 but continuing as the team's head coach. As a coach, he coached 1953-1957 Milwaukee / St. Louis Hawks, 1963-1967 Leones de Ponce, and 1967-1982 New York Knicks. As a player, he was named NBA champion (1951), NBL champion (1946), 2× All-NBL First Team (1946, 1948), All-NBL Second Team (1947), NBL Rookie of the Year (1946), and Third-team All-American – Converse (1942). As a coach, he was named 2× NBA champion (1970, 1973), NBA Coach of the Year (1970), 2× NBA All-Star Game Coach (1970, 1971), 3× BSN champion (1964–1966), Top 10 Coaches in NBA History, Top 15 Coaches in NBA History, and No. 613 retired by New York Knicks (1990)