Honey Russell
Honey Russell (1902-1973)
Teams coached: Seton Hall Pirates, Manhattan Jaspers, Boston Celtics
Seton Hall record: 295-129 (.696)
Manhattan record: 15-8 (.652)
Overall record^: 310-137 (.694)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 1 (1953)
- NIT Appearances: 7 (1941, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1957)
Awards:
- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (inducted 1964 as a player)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1949-1960 | Seton Hall |
| 1946-1948 | Boston Celtics |
| 1945-1946 | Manhattan |
| 1936-1943 | Seton Hall |
Honey Russell Facts
- John David Russell
- Born May 31, 1902
- Died November 15, 1973
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
- Alma Mater: Seton Hall University (BA)
- After his sophomore year at Alexander Hamilton HS in Brooklyn, Russell began playing professional basketball
- Played for a number of teams throughout his career, often playing on multiple teams in the same year
- Among those teams were various ABL and future NBL franchises and a stint with the Original (New York) Celtics
- Named to four ABL All-Star teams (1926-29) and won two ABL Championships (1926 and 1939)
- Russell’s playing career lasted over 20 years; he was inducted into the Naismith HOF as a player in 1964
- Throughout his playing years, Russell also served as a player/coach on numerous occasions
- He coached the Chicago Bruins, Newark/New Britain Mules, New York Jewels, Wilkes-Barre Barons, Camden/Brooklyn Indians and New York Westchesters, among others
- His first stint as head coach at Seton Hall (1936-43) also came while he was still playing professionally
- Russell built the team up from 5-10 in his first season to 20 wins and an NIT third-place in 1941 (his fifth season)
- Later spent one season as the head coach at Manhattan, going 15-8 (2-4)
- Served as the first-ever head coach of the NBA’s Boston Celtics (1946-48)
- Was 43-78 in total, reaching the Playoffs in his second year (lost in the Quarterfinals 1-2)
- Returned to Seton Hall in 1949, coaching the Pirates for another 11 seasons (making it 18 in total)
- Reached the NIT another six times and won the NIT title in 1953 (the Pirates were 31-2 that season)
- Retired from coaching in 1960 with an overall record of 310-137 (295-129 at Seton Hall)
- Russell also served as a professional baseball scout with the Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos and Chicago White Sox
Honey Russell Coaching Tree
- Al Brightman (Anaheim Amigos, San Francisco Saints, Seattle)
- Bob Davies (Gettysburg, Seton Hall)
- Ritchie Regan (Seton Hall)
- Bobby Wanzer (St. John Fisher College, Rochester/Cincinnati Royals)
^ overall record includes head coaching positions at the NCAA Division I level only
