WORCESTER, Mass. – Former Holy Cross men's basketball player Tom Heinsohn (Class of 1956) will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the second time this weekend, in recognition of his coaching career. Heinsohn, who was previously inducted as a player in 1986, will become just the fourth individual to enter the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. He will share this double honor with Bill Sharman, John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens.

Heinsohn scored 1,789 points during his Holy Cross career, the fifth-most of any player in school history. He also holds the all-time Holy Cross records for career rebounds (1,254), rebounds in a single season (569 in 1955-1956) and rebounds in a single game (42 vs. Boston College in 1956). He was selected as the 1956 Crusader of the Year – in just the second year the award had been given. A first team All-America selection in both 1955 and 1956, Heinsohn was inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1962 and had his jersey retired by Holy Cross in 2008.

Following his collegiate career, Heinsohn was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the 1956 NBA Draft. He went on to star for the Celtics from 1956-1965, while helping to lead Boston to eight NBA championships. A six-time NBA All-Star, Heinsohn earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1957 and led the Celtics in scoring from 1960-1962.

After his playing career ended, Heinsohn spent nine seasons as the Celtics head coach from 1969-1978. He led Boston to NBA titles in 1974 and 1976, and was named the NBA Coach of the Year in 1973 after guiding the Celtics to a league-best 68-14 regular season record. Heinsohn accumulated a career coaching record of 427-263 (.619). Since retiring as coach of the Celtics, he has remained with the organization as color commentator and studio analyst for television broadcasts.

The 2015 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will take place this evening in Springfield, Mass.