Larry Bird’s Last Shot at Boston Garden + Rick Pitino Introduced As Celtics Head Coach. as reported in this file from WBZ in Boston, the day Rick Pitino was hired as head coach, franchise patriarch, Red Auerbach was demoted from his honorary position, ML Carr was demoted and Larry Bird resigned. br br You’ll hear from all of them, including Pitino in this now infamous moment in the storied franchises legendary history.