Tom “Satch” Sanders
BIO
KEYNOTES
TESTIMONIALS
VIDEOS
BOOKS
Thomas “Satch” Sanders was one of the great defensive forwards in basketball. A Helms Foundation First Team All-America at NYU, Satch adapted to his new surroundings as a rookie with the Boston Celtics in 1960 by sacrificing his offensive skill set to contribute on the defensive end, playing alongside teammates Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and other greats. Night after night Celtics coach Red Auerbach assigned Sanders the unenviable task of stopping the opponent’s top offensive threat. Satch handled the dirty work guarding the
likes of Pettit, DeBusschere, and Baylor. The eight-time world champion finished his playing career in 1973 after 13 professional seasons, all with the Boston Celtics.
He stayed in New England taking the reins of the basketball program at Harvard University for four seasons before returning to the Celtics, first as an assistant coach and then briefly as a head coach. He remained “the coach” by concurrently running an annual two week New Hampshire basketball camp for 38 years.
Satch soon traded the sidelines for a desk job founding a number of player programs to give NBA players the tools to be successful in basketball and in life. For 18 years he was the vice president and director of the National Basketball Association Player Development Department, where he founded the NBA Rookie Transition Program. He introduced initiatives for young players and veterans alike, helping superstar athletes understand and appreciate their status as role models, leaders, and celebrities. He came to the NBA from the Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society where for two years he helped to create new approaches to balancing college athletics and academics. He is the author of Satch’s Commuter Moments, a whimsical book revealing a keen eye for the roles we all play in the passing parade called humanity.
His #16 is proudly displayed in the upper right-hand corner of one the Boston Celtics retired number banners at TD Garden. Satch was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011.
Keynote Presentations
My Life in Basketball and Lessons Learned
The "You" Lessons of Competition
Who is Really the Number One Winner?
Do It For YOU First!
Many of us want to do so much more of everything. However, we seem to always find “us” standing in the way. This presentation will help us to move out of our own way and begin to reach the success levels that will enable us to help ourselves and others. It will also deal with the subject of leadership and followership.
Team Player? Not Until You Are Prepared to be the Best Teammate!
Most people want to be a team player, particularly if it is a business, job, or a social requirement. The real questions that need to be answered by anyone who wants to be on “the team,” are the queries that deal with getting prepared to be a team member. This presentation will help build the bridges between role situations and good chemistry.
Satch Sanders Testimonial
Video
Book
