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Bernard ‘Red’ Sarachek, Y.U. Coach

By Forward Staff November 18, 2005

Bernard “Red” Sarachek, former Yeshiva University basketball coach, died November 14 after a long illness. He was 93.

Sarachek coached the Y.U. team from 1942 to ’43 and from 1945 to ’69. He is a member of the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the New York City Hall of Fame. He worked with several members of the Basketball Hall of Fame, including coaches Lou Carnesecca and Red Holzman, and player-coach William “Pop” Gates. As coach of the Scranton Miners of the American Basketball League, Sarachek defied league segregation by playing Gates, Dolly King and Eddie Younger at the same time.

“[Sarachek] did what he thought was right, and he said what he though was right,” current Y.U. head basketball coach Jonathan Halpert said in a statement. “He had as many Italian friends as Jewish friends. As many Irish friends as Jewish friends. As many black friends as Jewish friends. As long as you were truthful and straight up, he liked you.”

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