 After a slow start in high school, William Felton Russell earned himself an athletic scholarship to the University of San Francisco, which he would lead to 55 consecutive wins, two undefeated seasons, and back-to-back NCAA championships. In 1956, he led the Olympic team to a gold medal and then joined the Boston Celtics, bringing them their first NBA championship and helping them win an unprecedented eight more championships from 1959 through 1966. He also inspired social change in America and spoke often of the need for ancestral pride for black Americans. In 1967, Russell took over the Celtics' coaching position and became the first African-American NBA coach, leading the Celtics to 11 championship titles during his outstanding career.