Philip Sachs

Philip "Cincy" Sachs (April 1, 1902 – December 19, 1973)[1][2] was an American basketball interim head coach for the Detroit Falcons, a Basketball Association of America team, in 1946–47.[3] After taking over the team from Glenn M. Curtis, Sachs posted an 8–18 win-loss record while in charge of the Falcons.[3] Prior to coaching in the BAA, he had spent time coaching the Detroit Gems before they entered the National Basketball League.[4]

Philip Sachs

Pictured in the January 1982 edition of Michigan Jewish History journal
Personal information
Born	(1902-04-01)April 1, 1902 Russia
Died	December 19, 1973(1973-12-19) (aged 71) Detroit, Michigan
Nationality	American
Career history
As coach:
1936–1940	Lawrence Tech
194?–1946	Detroit Gems
1946–1947	Detroit Falcons
Career highlights and awards
As coach: Michigan–Ontario League champion (1938) 7× Michigan AAU champion Michigan Sports Hall of Fame (1973)

Sachs was born in Russia and moved to Cincinnati, Ohio around 1904.[2] His interest in basketball grew as a child, and in August 1917 his family moved to Detroit, Michigan.[2] In 1919 he began his head coaching career; his first-ever team went 30–1 and lost in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) championship game.[2] Between 1936 and 1940, Sachs coached the Lawrence Institute of Technology team.[2] In his first season they placed second in the Michigan–Ontario League, and in his second year they tied for first place.[2] His overall record at Lawrence Tech was 56–28.[2]

In Sachs' post-BAA years, he started a boys' basketball school, promoted tournaments, and worked full-time at the Griswold Sporting Goods Company.[2] He also coached the teams who the Harlem Globetrotters would play against, even winning some on occasion.[2] His cumulative overall head coaching record (including high school, AAU, semi-professional, and professional) was 782–158, a winning percentage of .832.[2] He died in Detroit on December 19, 1973 never having married.[2]